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  1. 1. Do you give?



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I vote yes. I willingly give them all one way rides to our county hotel. The vast majority of the ones that I make contact with are not homeless and travel in big groups that drop each other off at va

I don't give handouts. I give opportunities. If someone wants money, and I can get them work, I will.   TANSTAAFL    

We all give to beggars. It's called taxes.

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Pauly, you didnt tell us why you give. :haha:

I consider it my tithe.

 

Yes, at times it disgusts me when a seemingly able bodied person is standing around asking for a hand out, but I don't know that person's situation, mental defects, hunger level etc...

 

If somebody uses the money for drugs, so be it. I hope it eases their pain.

They're going to get the funds somehow, maybe my buck will keep them from breaking into somewhere & stealing for it.

If someone asks I don't give away the bank, but I'll give change, a buck or a little more if compelled.

 

I keep a buck rolled around a cigarette in my cupholder so I don't have to stop & dig in my wallet.

If I can't stop, I'll honk as I approach to catch the panhandler's attention & just toss it out the window at them as I drive by.

 

I don't see it as giving it to the beggar, just like I wasn't saluting the asshole with the gold bars. I was saluting the gold bars.

 

When I'm giving, that's my way of tithing.

I'm giving to honor the Lord.

If the person takes it for granted & sees me as a "mark" so be it.

That's on him. He's the shitbird & his fortune will reflect this. Karma's a bitch like that.

 

I'd rather be the guy giving to those who proclaim to be in need than the shitbird that plays the role thinking their pulling one over on me.

 

Not to mention, it makes the giver feel better than the one receiving.

 

Matt 42-47 comes to mind;

 

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

 

Also the test suggested in MALACHI 3:10 comes to mind, but the 501c(3) "non profit" :lolol: charities expend ridiculous amounts of capital to support themselves & their overhead.

Many others donate to them, I'll put my money, old clothes, shoes & coats on the street.

The 501c3 charities can get their funding from those who disagree with me on giving directly to the beggars.

 

I have tested the Lord in this way & I know I'll never convince a non believer, but when you give in the name of the Lord, it really will be returned tenfold.

When I refuse, I usually feel guilt. Also, when I get into a habit of refusing, tight times are sure to follow.

When I trust in the Lord & give in his honor, I always flourish.

 

Now, I'm no saint.

Not by a fuckin' long shot.

Shit I've done in the past would make many readers here's heads spin.

I can guaranty that I've done more dirt & down right evil deeds than the vast, vast majority of those who read this.

I've blasphemed the Lord to the point of cursing him & literally flipping him the bird in my youth. I lost my virginity to a mexican whore at 17 in Tiajauana in the Navy & the rest of the tang I got was stolen from some poor bastard or another that thought he was in love with some girl who loved him too, not with some chick that let me do her in the back of a car in the parking lot of some bar or Mission Beach.

I've been absolutely merciless when crossed as a young man & caused much more than my fair share of pain when I felt wronged, or was backing up a friend whether they were in the wrong or in the right.

I still hane the 3' piece of 2" exhaust pipe that resulted in the nickname "Crazy Pauly" & the other one which shall not be mentioned.

I keep the fool-be-good bar as a reminder of who I once was before my eyes were opened.

Now that they are, I try to hold to certain customs regardless of resentful feelings that I may experiance when I see a degenerate that I feel on first glance can do for self.

I guess I just feel I owe a large debt.

 

To once again quote scriptures;

 

Luke 7:47;

 

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

I'm not a big fan of state sponsored social support, however, I do believe we are our brother's keepers to an extent.

I feel that if I stand against socialisim, I will not perticipate in it, however I do feel if I'm not hurting, I should try to help ease other's pain through my own free will.

 

I never know.

This time may be the time that the person really needs food.

 

Now I have given the homeless food, but I put myself in their shoes. First off, they may be fearful that this is the burger laced with rat-poision by some psycho that hates beggars.

Also, accepting food from someone is psychologically hard for some. It's a complete surrender in a sense.

I personally have a hard time accepting free food from people who I'm not close to because it makes a certain statment of submission.

 

Therefore, I just giive a buck.

Like I said, I'm giving to honor the Lord, not the beggar.

 

On the other hand, if I'm walking to my car with a bag of groceries near the end of the month & a woman's in a car asking for money to buy food for her kids, I've been known to give away 1/2 my groceries, or if I don't have much, go buy a care package.

 

The times I've done this, the recipiant has always left afterward, & I came back after leaving just to quell my curiosity to check if they came back trying to take another shot & they weren't.

In my area there's a LOT of people on public assistance. Even if mom's irresponsible, I feel for the kids. (I always have been a Captain Saveaho)

 

 

Maybe i'm making the problem worse by providing motivation for the beggars to continue to beg.

I don't know.

But it's not the what, so much as the why in the eyes of the Lord, from my understanding.

 

Maybe I give to fulfill a subconscious narcissistic need to feel in control. Once again, I don't know.

That's a possibility.

However, the mindset that comes from the confidence to just give to those who seem to be in need is empowering, which raises one's confidence, which leads to that person being more confident when pursuing their future endeavors, which in turn leads to a higher probability of success.

He who supports others is he who is in charge.

Being in charge is more of a developed mentality than an appointed position.

 

It's a win-win as far as I see it thus far.

 

Then there's;

 

Deuteronomy 15:7-11

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

 

And;

Proverbs 21:13

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard..

Proverbs 21:13 touches my heart.

We've covered our ears to the cries of our brothers so long that we've grown numb.

We do all that we can to avoid contact so we don't have to accept the reality that really may be just a few crazy turns of events from happening to nearly all of us.

 

We avoid true "community" because we feel it may become inconvenient.

In this attempt, we distance ourselves from eachother. We become a bunch of individuals with no ties & moreover, no support infrastructure aside from that provided by the state.

 

This makes society easily controlled because their ties are weak & loyalties are nonexistent.

 

It's everybody for themselves.

 

 

 

One time in particular I didn't and it racked me with guilt.

Been there.

I have felt like shit. Like I judged & failed my test.

That scenario always presents it's self when you're in a bad mood.

It's happened enough times that I just give what I can.

I let the Lord guide me, but a couple bucks is a small price to pay for not feeling like you failed to give back when asked.

 

 

 

BTW Pauly

 

I beg you to do my carrier and bolt. Will you do it for free I spend so much money on my NFA stuff I just can't afford your 100% quality work. So since I am begging will you?

 

See what I mean?

I've given away close to $1000.00 of services in the last 6 mo. due to either misunderstandings, suprize shitty work that I run across that was done by other builders that the customer was unaware of or jobs that were much more involved than I thought they would be, but I already told the guy how much I thought it would run.

 

I don't bump up the price after a quote, to the extent that I've done 3 times as much work as the customer ordered simply to avoid charging more than they initially expected to pay just because it hurts my pride to send what I see as shit work out of my shop. Even if it came from another's hand.

 

MANY can attest to this.

One thread even popped up regarding it;

http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?/topic/64594-hats-off-to-pauly/

 

That being said, I don't just give my work away to anybody who asks.

I offer.

However, if you see me in portland & you say you're hungry, I'll give you a buck to get something off a dollar menu somewhere.

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Well put Pauly I commend and respect your for your values.

 

Something I do do that is way more dangerous than giving is pick up hitch hikers.

 

of course it's 73 miles between Scranton PA and Binghamton NY with not really anything between.

 

Also I'm the one with the 5 shot bulldog.

 

Had one rider ask me once if I always drove 90 + my response was only when I pick up hitch hikers.

 

Best I ever picked up was a teen headed to Elmira NY he had a sign on Rte 81 that read :::

 

ELMIRA

 

I DON'T SMELL

 

 

 

 

Anywho back on topic.

 

I respect you for your convictions but I've seen like most 1st hand the "business" end of the scams here in Scranton.

 

one guy bumming smokes from everyone and pocketing them on a power chair of all things. out in front of the hospital I work @ .

 

So I may not give any other gift accept safe passage and NOT to the crowbar hotel like GaPD LOL ( I like that one)

 

And my pride would keep me from asking you to do any work for free although trade is fine.

 

Like I tell the nursing office...

 

If I wanted to donate I'd go to church.

 

If I wanted to volunteer I'd re-enlist.

 

 

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I voted YES however its not all the time or to everyone.

 

I've had people approach me at a 7-11 or Dunkin Donuts and as for a few bucks cause they realized they are out of money and need gas. Or they dont have change for the bus. I can see someone having an off day and not realizing they forgot their wallet or cash at home. No biggie, I throw them a few bucks. This summer I had a lady come up to me at a gas station near Harrisburg Pa and ask if I had some cash for gas. Her husband thought she had brought money so he didnt bring his wallet and she thought he had the money so she didnt bring hers. Between the 2 of them they had their DLs and some change in the ashtray. I was out of cash to so I just used my debit card for $5 to get them enough to get home and get their cash.

 

Years ago there were a few people that stood around the Blvd in NE Philly with cardboard signs asking for food and money. I would give a few bucks sometimes because I felt really bad for them. There was a once a Mental hospital there that ran out of funding in the early 90s so all the patients that had families were taken elsewhere. Those that had no one were just let out. These people(seemed like they were 10 year olds in an adult body)had nothing and certainly wernt at fault for what happened. Over the years they disappeared. Car accidents, jail or just wondered away.

 

Besides the occasional firemen that have donations set up once a year or so thats about it.

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I don't give to the the guys at the intersection, or in the parking lot. They do that as their daily job. Same guy, same corner, same sign and all they want is money. They aren't really needy. I tossed one a Snickers bar one time and he threw it back at me and ran like hell when I pulled over and got out.

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If somebody uses the money for drugs, so be it. I hope it eases their pain.

They're going to get the funds somehow, maybe my buck will keep them from breaking into somewhere & stealing for it.

If someone asks I don't give away the bank, but I'll give change, a buck or a little more if compelled.

[...]

Matt 42-47 comes to mind

 

 

If someone asked you for a few buck if they could go buy rat poison so they could poison themselves just a little, would you give it to them? That is basically what you're doing. Drugs and alcohol aren't relief from their pain, they're the cause of it. They're addicts, and without their crippling dependency they might well be able to get decent lives. But so long as someone is willing to fork over cash to keep their addiction going, they won't. You ain't doing them any favors.

 

I appreciate the good feelings one gets from being comes from being charitable, but you should ask yourself if you're really giving that money to help the recipient, or if you're doing it so you can feel better about yourself. If it is the latter, is it really charity?

 

As for the Bible quotes, the scriptures were written at a time when there were no social services to help people out who were homeless, so money that was given back then would almost certainly go to feed them. Today we have various charities and safety nets set up to feed people who are in need. The guy on the street corner with the sign doesn't need your money so he can eat, he gets al he wants from the local food bank and churches. He wants that money for something else that the food bank won't provide. If you want to feed the needy and fulfill what the Bible says is the right thing to do, then give money to those organizations. By giving money to addicts you're just making a bad situation worse, both for the panhandler himself and for society at large.

 

I work with the homeless every day, and I can tell you right now they don't need your money. The real cost of giving them your cash isn't your spare change; it is in perpetuating the cycle of addiction and misery they're in, and making the community they inhabit much less safe, dirty, and unhappy.

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Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

One time in particular I didn't and it racked me with guilt.

 

Was having a bad day and eating a burger in the car in the lot of a Burger King. As I was eating, a guy on crutches and missing a foot hobbles over towards my car and I actually said to myself, "Oh, here we go!". I knew what was coming. The guy only asked for a quarter and I said no. I watched him hobble away over to the Burger King doors, only to also be turned away by them. By the time I got home, I hated myself for not giving the guy 5 bucks for a burger and fries. He was probably a vet and I turned him down.

 

I went back to the Burger King the next day around the same time just to see if I could find him, but he wasn't there. Sometimes you don't get a second chance to help.

 

I felt like I was given a test by God, and I failed miserably. I helped some old ladies change a tire a few days later, but that still didn't help the other guy very much.

 

For the record, I'm a pretty conservative guy. In general, I don't give handouts to people who just seem to be looking for a free ride. That's repulsive. The scammers who say, they just need 5 bucks for a train ticket to get home get nothing.

 

But too often I have ignored those who are truly in need.

I need to do better.

 

Good post Pauly.

This only means that you have compassion and are human. You did not fail the Almighty because you returned and the subsequent actions you did. God knows you, you're OK and can move on.

Peace

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I tell them I'm not interested. Get robbed once, you won't be interested either. There is nothing in the bible or in written law that states I have to trust others. When you dig in your pocket, you are distracted. When you lean over and dig around in your console for change, you are distracted. When you are distracted.... you are an opportunity to run with a wallet, carjack, and assault. Not worth the risk to look like a nice guy to someone I will likely never see again.

 

I do help people that I personally know are down and out by no fault of their own, but are not drug addicts, alcoholics, or just plain sorry.

 

I feel the same way. I frequently help people I know that really need help. The last time I gave money to an unknown was at the a hospital in Columbus, GA. My brother in law and I were there visiting his wife and were going down to the smoking area and a young woman came to us and said she was there to see her mother who was dying from cancer. Her car wouldn't start so she needed money to get a taxi home before dark so her two young children wouldn't be alone. I wasn't going to give her anything except a lecture about leaving young children alone period. My brother in law and his wife who had the softest hearts of any people I have ever known whipped out a $10 and gave it to her before I could say a word then looked at me. I quietly got another $10 and gave it to her. We went on to smoke. While in the smoking area two hospital people came up and began talking about the woman going around the hospital with the scam for money. I didn't say anything but just looked at my brother in law and nodded. Less than two years later both my brother in law and sister in law passed away from cancer. I have not given money to any stranger since then. I will offer to help the in some other way like calling a taxi and paying it when it arrived but I will never again give money.

 

Rest in peace Doug and Judy you are greatly missed.

Edited by Palidin
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i never give anything.

 

the decisions theyve made have landed them where we see them today. its not my fault they choose to be lazy asses and nickel and dime us cuz they dont want to quit drinking. instead of pulling thier heads outta thier asses and contributing to society like the rest of us, they choose a shit life and blame everyone else for thier problems instead of taking responsibility for themselves and their life.

 

just like fuckin welfare. we need to give drug tests to them before they recieve any benefits. this will weed out the shit scum that fill the ranks of our welfare system and maybe those who actually need it will get it.

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If somebody uses the money for drugs, so be it. I hope it eases their pain.

They're going to get the funds somehow, maybe my buck will keep them from breaking into somewhere & stealing for it.

If someone asks I don't give away the bank, but I'll give change, a buck or a little more if compelled.

[...]

Matt 42-47 comes to mind

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

 

 

If someone asked you for a few buck if they could go buy rat poison so they could poison themselves just a little, would you give it to them? That is basically what you're doing. Drugs and alcohol aren't relief from their pain, they're the cause of it. They're addicts, and without their crippling dependency they might well be able to get decent lives. But so long as someone is willing to fork over cash to keep their addiction going, they won't. You ain't doing them any favors.

 

I appreciate the good feelings one gets from being comes from being charitable, but you should ask yourself if you're really giving that money to help the recipient, or if you're doing it so you can feel better about yourself. If it is the latter, is it really charity?

 

As for the Bible quotes, the scriptures were written at a time when there were no social services to help people out who were homeless, so money that was given back then would almost certainly go to feed them. Today we have various charities and safety nets set up to feed people who are in need. The guy on the street corner with the sign doesn't need your money so he can eat, he gets al he wants from the local food bank and churches. He wants that money for something else that the food bank won't provide. If you want to feed the needy and fulfill what the Bible says is the right thing to do, then give money to those organizations. By giving money to addicts you're just making a bad situation worse, both for the panhandler himself and for society at large.

 

I work with the homeless every day, and I can tell you right now they don't need your money. The real cost of giving them your cash isn't your spare change; it is in perpetuating the cycle of addiction and misery they're in, and making the community they inhabit much less safe, dirty, and unhappy.

You can justify selfishness, disregard scriptures because they were written a long time ago, try to twist my motives to seem self serving & pose whatever fantasy comes to mind to reinforce your position.

 

But alas, I'm a zealot & you should know by now that there's no reasoning with someone like myself..

I don't judge what the person might do with the buck I give.

I just try to do as the scriptures command.

The beggar is on his journey & I'm on mine.

 

I volunteer at Red Cross warming centers in the winter & I've seen the issues first hand.

I've seen us run out of food nearly every time I'm there.

I've worked in behavioral health & seen us toss the mentally ill out on the streets with no support.

 

So I give.

I have many reasons for giving.

 

If you choose to judge me for giving, that's your own problem.

I'm not judging you for turning your back on somebody who may be in need. You have your rationale, I have mine.

 

Like I said before, it's not the what, so much as the why in the eyes of the Lord.

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Gave to a guy with one leg once in Vegas. Claimed he was a vet and I had done well at the blackjack tables, so...

 

Ran in to a guy at the local BK asking for a dollar for a sandwich. I shrugged him off.

 

 

Came out of the store with an extra double cheese for him. You'd have thought he was a 6 yr old at Christmas.

 

Few years back in Myrtle Beach a guy came from around back of a restaurant, looked rough, very rough, asked if we could spare some change for food. I had half of my meal in a box from Mike's Pizza and Pasta on King's Hwy. I gave him that instead. Before I could offer a plastic fork he was fingers first into it. Like a hungry dog on a fresh squirrel.

 

There have been many I've turned away or just avoided. In Atlanta the pan handlers avoid any of us who open carry. I do so about 90% of the time when off work.

 

It feels good to give from time to time. It feels rotten when you think it's a scam.

 

So I trust my gut.

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I had a aguy ask me for a couple of dollars. I was getting into my vehicle downtown after meeting some friends for lunch. He had just walked up to them asking for money and they gave him a dollar. He wasn't homeless and dressed with good clothes. I told him he could have all the change in my console. After seeing I pulled out about fifty pennies and some dimes he looked at it and refused to take it. I said " guess you really don't need money then because it spends just the same". I drove off laughing.

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I voted yes. I figure that I'm not rich, but not destitute either. I've been fortunate to have a good job. I've also been placed into a position where I wonder where they money will come from, even though I was willing and able and not finding a job. Anyone that remembers Houston in the big oil bust (late 80's/early 90's) when no one was hiring will allude to this. Sometimes shit happens that is through no fault of your own. I live in a small town in a State that has sparse population, but you see people in need from time to time. Like Pauly said - food runs out. So if nothing else, give to your food pantry. Every situation is different, and not all people are scammers. If anyone of you have ever been flat on your back, wondering what the hell will come next, or where help will come from, you would not hesitate to help out those who might need help once you get on your feet. So fucking what if I give someone some money and he goes and spends it on drugs or booze? That's what I might have done with it (minus drugs). Charity strongholds are mostly a ripoff. Most big charity places give 10 cents of every dollar you donate to help the poor/downtrodden/homeless. 80 cents of every dollar goes to the pockets of those that run the charity. Non - Profit is the biggest fucking lie since "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you" You are way ahead helping those that need it, right then, right there, in anyway or shape you can on your own. If you don't help, who really gives a shit? I certianly don't. That's your decision. Just remember One Day, the person that might need that hand up, MIGHT BE YOU. (even through no fault of your own) Karma can kick your ass in ways you never dreamed of.

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Pauly, you didnt tell us why you give. :haha:

I consider it my tithe.

 

Yes, at times it disgusts me when a seemingly able bodied person is standing around asking for a hand out, but I don't know that person's situation, mental defects, hunger level etc...

 

If somebody uses the money for drugs, so be it. I hope it eases their pain.

They're going to get the funds somehow, maybe my buck will keep them from breaking into somewhere & stealing for it.

If someone asks I don't give away the bank, but I'll give change, a buck or a little more if compelled.

 

I keep a buck rolled around a cigarette in my cupholder so I don't have to stop & dig in my wallet.

If I can't stop, I'll honk as I approach to catch the panhandler's attention & just toss it out the window at them as I drive by.

 

I don't see it as giving it to the beggar, just like I wasn't saluting the asshole with the gold bars. I was saluting the gold bars.

 

When I'm giving, that's my way of tithing.

I'm giving to honor the Lord.

If the person takes it for granted & sees me as a "mark" so be it.

That's on him. He's the shitbird & his fortune will reflect this. Karma's a bitch like that.

 

I'd rather be the guy giving to those who proclaim to be in need than the shitbird that plays the role thinking their pulling one over on me.

 

Not to mention, it makes the giver feel better than the one receiving.

 

Matt 42-47 comes to mind;

 

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

 

Also the test suggested in MALACHI 3:10 comes to mind, but the 501c(3) "non profit" :lolol: charities expend ridiculous amounts of capital to support themselves & their overhead.

Many others donate to them, I'll put my money, old clothes, shoes & coats on the street.

The 501c3 charities can get their funding from those who disagree with me on giving directly to the beggars.

 

I have tested the Lord in this way & I know I'll never convince a non believer, but when you give in the name of the Lord, it really will be returned tenfold.

When I refuse, I usually feel guilt. Also, when I get into a habit of refusing, tight times are sure to follow.

When I trust in the Lord & give in his honor, I always flourish.

 

Now, I'm no saint.

Not by a fuckin' long shot.

Shit I've done in the past would make many readers here's heads spin.

I can guaranty that I've done more dirt & down right evil deeds than the vast, vast majority of those who read this.

I've blasphemed the Lord to the point of cursing him & literally flipping him the bird in my youth. I lost my virginity to a mexican whore at 17 in Tiajauana in the Navy & the rest of the tang I got was stolen from some poor bastard or another that thought he was in love with some girl who loved him too, not with some chick that let me do her in the back of a car in the parking lot of some bar or Mission Beach.

I've been absolutely merciless when crossed as a young man & caused much more than my fair share of pain when I felt wronged, or was backing up a friend whether they were in the wrong or in the right.

I still hane the 3' piece of 2" exhaust pipe that resulted in the nickname "Crazy Pauly" & the other one which shall not be mentioned.

I keep the fool-be-good bar as a reminder of who I once was before my eyes were opened.

Now that they are, I try to hold to certain customs regardless of resentful feelings that I may experiance when I see a degenerate that I feel on first glance can do for self.

I guess I just feel I owe a large debt.

 

To once again quote scriptures;

 

Luke 7:47;

 

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

I'm not a big fan of state sponsored social support, however, I do believe we are our brother's keepers to an extent.

I feel that if I stand against socialisim, I will not perticipate in it, however I do feel if I'm not hurting, I should try to help ease other's pain through my own free will.

 

I never know.

This time may be the time that the person really needs food.

 

Now I have given the homeless food, but I put myself in their shoes. First off, they may be fearful that this is the burger laced with rat-poision by some psycho that hates beggars.

Also, accepting food from someone is psychologically hard for some. It's a complete surrender in a sense.

I personally have a hard time accepting free food from people who I'm not close to because it makes a certain statment of submission.

 

Therefore, I just giive a buck.

Like I said, I'm giving to honor the Lord, not the beggar.

 

On the other hand, if I'm walking to my car with a bag of groceries near the end of the month & a woman's in a car asking for money to buy food for her kids, I've been known to give away 1/2 my groceries, or if I don't have much, go buy a care package.

 

The times I've done this, the recipiant has always left afterward, & I came back after leaving just to quell my curiosity to check if they came back trying to take another shot & they weren't.

In my area there's a LOT of people on public assistance. Even if mom's irresponsible, I feel for the kids. (I always have been a Captain Saveaho)

 

 

Maybe i'm making the problem worse by providing motivation for the beggars to continue to beg.

I don't know.

But it's not the what, so much as the why in the eyes of the Lord, from my understanding.

 

Maybe I give to fulfill a subconscious narcissistic need to feel in control. Once again, I don't know.

That's a possibility.

However, the mindset that comes from the confidence to just give to those who seem to be in need is empowering, which raises one's confidence, which leads to that person being more confident when pursuing their future endeavors, which in turn leads to a higher probability of success.

He who supports others is he who is in charge.

Being in charge is more of a developed mentality than an appointed position.

 

It's a win-win as far as I see it thus far.

 

Then there's;

 

Deuteronomy 15:7-11

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

 

And;

Proverbs 21:13

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard..

Proverbs 21:13 touches my heart.

We've covered our ears to the cries of our brothers so long that we've grown numb.

We do all that we can to avoid contact so we don't have to accept the reality that really may be just a few crazy turns of events from happening to nearly all of us.

 

We avoid true "community" because we feel it may become inconvenient.

In this attempt, we distance ourselves from eachother. We become a bunch of individuals with no ties & moreover, no support infrastructure aside from that provided by the state.

 

This makes society easily controlled because their ties are weak & loyalties are nonexistent.

 

It's everybody for themselves.

 

 

 

One time in particular I didn't and it racked me with guilt.

Been there.

I have felt like shit. Like I judged & failed my test.

That scenario always presents it's self when you're in a bad mood.

It's happened enough times that I just give what I can.

I let the Lord guide me, but a couple bucks is a small price to pay for not feeling like you failed to give back when asked.

 

 

 

BTW Pauly

 

I beg you to do my carrier and bolt. Will you do it for free I spend so much money on my NFA stuff I just can't afford your 100% quality work. So since I am begging will you?

 

See what I mean?

I've given away close to $1000.00 of services in the last 6 mo. due to either misunderstandings, suprize shitty work that I run across that was done by other builders that the customer was unaware of or jobs that were much more involved than I thought they would be, but I already told the guy how much I thought it would run.

 

I don't bump up the price after a quote, to the extent that I've done 3 times as much work as the customer ordered simply to avoid charging more than they initially expected to pay just because it hurts my pride to send what I see as shit work out of my shop. Even if it came from another's hand.

 

MANY can attest to this.

One thread even popped up regarding it;

http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?/topic/64594-hats-off-to-pauly/

 

That being said, I don't just give my work away to anybody who asks.

I offer.

However, if you see me in portland & you say you're hungry, I'll give you a buck to get something off a dollar menu somewhere.

 

Long post is long.

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And the fact that you have ADD is his fault? Sorry, but when someone writes something that

at least shows thought, I don't care if it's long.

 

As for me, I will volunteer, and sometimes give to charity. I don't give to bums, but I will give

to street musicians and buskers.

 

The government takes way too much of my money every paycheck for me to want to give to charity

until I get the majority of my money made. Then, once I have stuff making interest and money coming

in hard and fast, then I will give to charity.

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I voted yes. I figure that I'm not rich, but not destitute either. I've been fortunate to have a good job. I've also been placed into a position where I wonder where they money will come from, even though I was willing and able and not finding a job. Anyone that remembers Houston in the big oil bust (late 80's/early 90's) when no one was hiring will allude to this. Sometimes shit happens that is through no fault of your own. I live in a small town in a State that has sparse population, but you see people in need from time to time. Like Pauly said - food runs out. So if nothing else, give to your food pantry. Every situation is different, and not all people are scammers. If anyone of you have ever been flat on your back, wondering what the hell will come next, or where help will come from, you would not hesitate to help out those who might need help once you get on your feet. So fucking what if I give someone some money and he goes and spends it on drugs or booze? That's what I might have done with it (minus drugs). Charity strongholds are mostly a ripoff. Most big charity places give 10 cents of every dollar you donate to help the poor/downtrodden/homeless. 80 cents of every dollar goes to the pockets of those that run the charity. Non - Profit is the biggest fucking lie since "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you" You are way ahead helping those that need it, right then, right there, in anyway or shape you can on your own. If you don't help, who really gives a shit? I certianly don't. That's your decision. Just remember One Day, the person that might need that hand up, MIGHT BE YOU. (even through no fault of your own) Karma can kick your ass in ways you never dreamed of.

 

Damn man, that sounds just about like a union I once belonged to (ALPA) except change "downtrodden" to democrat political candidate du joir and change "those that run the charity" to fat ass union-thug bosses. LOL I couldn't resist.

Edited by Bounce12
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Not a chance. Some years back, a lady in Tampa rolled down her window and started getting a dollar from her purse for a corner bum. She didn't get it fast enough to suit him, the bum stabbed her in the arm with a dirty hypo. Afterward, the lady was quoted saying "I wish he would have shot me instead, then I would know if I was alive or dead."

 

These corner bums are mostly a scourge. Anyone who gives money to one is propagating the problem.

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Matthew 4:19

 

AND THAT's WHAT BEGGARS ARE !

 

Since we seem to like to quote verse.

 

It doesn't translate to teaching people how to beg. It translates to teaching people how to believe.

 

The term "follow me" refers to following as a disciple would a Rabbi. Any good Rabbi or teacher would have a group of disciples around him learning and doing tasks for their master. France notes that Jesus' statement is unusual as it invites the disciples to take an active part in his ministry. While both Greek and Jewish religious leaders were traditionally surrounded by a group of disciples it was more common for the disciples to search out a teacher, and for a teacher to express indifference to their followers. This verse clearly depicts Jesus' actively recruiting his followers.

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