Wizard of Id by Parker and Hart for August 17, 2011

Fink is a long way from the saftey of the castle without a gaurd or Rodney

The Finks thinks he can take it with him I’m sure.

That’s why it’s best not to have any money or posessions when you die.

You can’t take it with you cause Fink won’t let you.

Define IT. You can take respect, honor, integrity, satisfaction and love with you.

The middle class knows this. They take all Momma’s assets so that when they shove her in the old folks home, Medicaid will pay. They assure her they are only helping her through the eye of the needle. Done right, there is no tax burden on the sad new owners of a second house.These same people want to tax the half million a rich man gives a hospital because it’s a loophole..

Love of money is the root of all evil. Although the scriptures belittle the wealthy, are there any passages about the Church having too much money?

All the churches in downtown Boston, MA, have security guards hovering over you as you try to pray.

exturk, the events in the Gospels predate the formation of “the Church” as such, and in the epistles “the Church” was in its infancy and in liitle danger of having too much money. But Jesus was outspoken against the mixing of spiritual concerns by money. Throwing the moneychangers out of the Temple, priests living in luxury off the sacrifices of the poor, and so on.

It could be argued that Jesus would even disapprove of declaring (and deducting) charitable contributions from your income taxes: “When giving alms, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Giving $500,000 to a hospital because the hospital needs $500,000 is charity. Giving $500,000 to a hospital so you can save $750,000 on your taxes is calculation.

Note to lew: my mom died of cancer after spending her last three good months in my house and the “home” she died at three weeks later was paid for from her pocket. Or else THEY take the home. The gov. only helps a little if at all. My mom-in-law lives off her husband’s Post Cereal medical care and pension since he passed on much more than off the pittance of medicare and ss.. We’ve helped care for her for the last five years keeping her out of the “home.”Please stop[ feeding the public lies about us middle class folks who now watch over our aging parents AND our kids and grandkids.By the way, thanks to your GOP crash buddies, we get to pay the debt on that second house or lose it. ;-)

exturk; The LOVE of money is the root of MUCH evil. Jesus lived in a theocracy. Church and state were the same. Scriptures don’t belittle the wealthy so much as point to the proper use of wealth. The parable of the man who works and works only to fill his barns, then beams with pride only to have the Lord call him foolish because he is going to die that evening. Jesus castigating the rich for giving wealth to the church then telling their parents they can’t help them, go the the church instead cause that’s where their money is.

Our church has several helpful community programs—Interfaith Hospitality Network, Homework Club (for “kids at risk”), food pantry, pre-school class, Rite 13 (for adolescents)

We have fewer than 100 members, but very gifted and generous members in time and contributions.

It is easier for a needle to go through the eye of a rich man than for a camel to enter the kingdom of heaven (or something like that….).