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Ever watch any of our westerns? Yeah. Some people in the US still live in houses like that. Ever watch any of of crime shows? Yeah, some of us still live in places like that. You're really not getting this. The US is huge! 50 states, and some of our states are bigger than your country.
Picture us like Europe, if you have to. Does everyone in Europe live in a Swiss chalet? Does everyone in Europe live in a Medieval castle? Does everyone in Europe live in communist cinder-block apartment building? Does everyone live in an English cottage? No? Then why do you think we all have the same houses?
I live in a very average (now) house for my neighborhood, and yet most folks in the US would think I'm buck-naked crazy for ever wanting to live in my house. We paid/are paying a little over 3-4 years salary in your country for it. Is it ridiculous to pay 3-4 years salary for a house in your country? I doubt it.
And what's my house look like? God was very gracious to us last summer, and PennEd (who is a member of this site too) and a bunch of his friends helped us fix it up. I could post pictures back then. (Can't now for some reason.) I posted a testimony about what happened last summer in the testimonial forum. So, want to see what a house looks like where I live? Here's my house. http://christianchat.com/testimonies/158273-act-god-photos-part-1-a.html (And don't worry about "Part 2," since I figured how to post it all in one thread. lol)
So much for wooden house, in vast amounts of land, huh? That was my brother's and dad's house. They're the ones who picked vast amount of land and wooden house. My oldest brother has a vast house on a nice bit of land. My younger brother has a middle-class house on middle-class land. And the two youngest have apartments. We're not all the same even when we're all the same family. lol
Picture us like Europe, if you have to. Does everyone in Europe live in a Swiss chalet? Does everyone in Europe live in a Medieval castle? Does everyone in Europe live in communist cinder-block apartment building? Does everyone live in an English cottage? No? Then why do you think we all have the same houses?
I live in a very average (now) house for my neighborhood, and yet most folks in the US would think I'm buck-naked crazy for ever wanting to live in my house. We paid/are paying a little over 3-4 years salary in your country for it. Is it ridiculous to pay 3-4 years salary for a house in your country? I doubt it.
And what's my house look like? God was very gracious to us last summer, and PennEd (who is a member of this site too) and a bunch of his friends helped us fix it up. I could post pictures back then. (Can't now for some reason.) I posted a testimony about what happened last summer in the testimonial forum. So, want to see what a house looks like where I live? Here's my house. http://christianchat.com/testimonies/158273-act-god-photos-part-1-a.html (And don't worry about "Part 2," since I figured how to post it all in one thread. lol)
So much for wooden house, in vast amounts of land, huh? That was my brother's and dad's house. They're the ones who picked vast amount of land and wooden house. My oldest brother has a vast house on a nice bit of land. My younger brother has a middle-class house on middle-class land. And the two youngest have apartments. We're not all the same even when we're all the same family. lol
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You're just not paying enough for the cart. You forget, income tax in the UK goes up to 80%.
BTW, I ride the cart and still get supplemental insurance, because the stupid cart only pays 80% for hospital stays. Had the cart been the only thing hubby used when he had the heart attack, 20% of the bills I saw would have been $80,000. AND, I didn't see all the bills, just when they were screwing up the bills. That $80,000 only covered the first 8 weeks. He didn't come home until five months later. Granted, the two heart surgeries were covered in those holy-crap bills that came, but still five more months. Thank God for the cart labeled "Veteran's Affairs," or who knows where we'd be today.
So, give away half of your income to the feds, you too can have the cart. (You're not in the 80% bracket. My guess is you'd be in the 50% bracket.) AND, added joy. Have to have your gallbladder removed because of stones? Wait 3-6 months first. (Universal health coverage ain't all its cracked up to be, and the American cart is wobbly, at best.)
BTW, I ride the cart and still get supplemental insurance, because the stupid cart only pays 80% for hospital stays. Had the cart been the only thing hubby used when he had the heart attack, 20% of the bills I saw would have been $80,000. AND, I didn't see all the bills, just when they were screwing up the bills. That $80,000 only covered the first 8 weeks. He didn't come home until five months later. Granted, the two heart surgeries were covered in those holy-crap bills that came, but still five more months. Thank God for the cart labeled "Veteran's Affairs," or who knows where we'd be today.
So, give away half of your income to the feds, you too can have the cart. (You're not in the 80% bracket. My guess is you'd be in the 50% bracket.) AND, added joy. Have to have your gallbladder removed because of stones? Wait 3-6 months first. (Universal health coverage ain't all its cracked up to be, and the American cart is wobbly, at best.)
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Nope. Actually healthcare insurance companies make 2-4% profit, so they aren't really gouging us. Truthfully, our government is, and isn't even benefiting from it.
-- They're the ones who made the laws on how often hospitals upgrade the big machines.
-- They're the ones telling our doctors that they have to prove everything by paperwork. Used to be a doctor's office required one paper-pusher. Now one doctor requires 4-7 paper-pushers.
-- They're the ones letting doctors know if they over prescribe pain pills, they'll be prosecuted. My doctor got a call from her patient on a Friday afternoon. The patient was a 50-something woman who had minor surgery that Tuesday, but the surgeon -- also fearful of getting arrested -- only gave her enough pain pills to last three days. Used to be ten days after minor operation, and most people stop taking them around the 7th. So, our doctor called in a prescription to last her just the weekend. Got a call from the pharmacy telling her they couldn't fill the order because the government called them about over prescribing.
-- AND they're the ones telling the veteran's hospital it's fine to fill the hospital with $150,000 beds for the patients, (and hubby was the rare patient who really needed air-controlled mattress because of his bedsore, and really did need the ability to have the bed rise and fall by buttons, since he's 250, so no complaints over $150,000 beds), YET not enough Thicken-it to keep him hydrated when he couldn't swallow water. Thicken-it cost about $20 a case.
And notice, all those stupid regulations and yet the government isn't making money doing that. They're spending it to make sure the stupid laws are kept.
By very nature of the beast, government -- all government -- is inept, and yet look how much we're willing to continue to let them be "in control."
-- They're the ones who made the laws on how often hospitals upgrade the big machines.
-- They're the ones telling our doctors that they have to prove everything by paperwork. Used to be a doctor's office required one paper-pusher. Now one doctor requires 4-7 paper-pushers.
-- They're the ones letting doctors know if they over prescribe pain pills, they'll be prosecuted. My doctor got a call from her patient on a Friday afternoon. The patient was a 50-something woman who had minor surgery that Tuesday, but the surgeon -- also fearful of getting arrested -- only gave her enough pain pills to last three days. Used to be ten days after minor operation, and most people stop taking them around the 7th. So, our doctor called in a prescription to last her just the weekend. Got a call from the pharmacy telling her they couldn't fill the order because the government called them about over prescribing.
-- AND they're the ones telling the veteran's hospital it's fine to fill the hospital with $150,000 beds for the patients, (and hubby was the rare patient who really needed air-controlled mattress because of his bedsore, and really did need the ability to have the bed rise and fall by buttons, since he's 250, so no complaints over $150,000 beds), YET not enough Thicken-it to keep him hydrated when he couldn't swallow water. Thicken-it cost about $20 a case.
And notice, all those stupid regulations and yet the government isn't making money doing that. They're spending it to make sure the stupid laws are kept.
By very nature of the beast, government -- all government -- is inept, and yet look how much we're willing to continue to let them be "in control."
You might want to take a gander at this if you think Healthcare profit is not way up there.:
https://csimarket.com/Industry/industry_Profitability_Ratios.php?s=800
https://csimarket.com/Industry/industry_Profitability_Ratios.php?s=800
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Truthfully, houses around here have been here for 100 years, so no idea what building would cost per square foot. lol
I do know the average house in my neighborhood runs about $200,000. Unbelievable to me for a rowhome. And the nice ones cost more than the rich people in my family paid for theirs. (Although they were bought before the last real estate bubble started rising.)
I do know the average house in my neighborhood runs about $200,000. Unbelievable to me for a rowhome. And the nice ones cost more than the rich people in my family paid for theirs. (Although they were bought before the last real estate bubble started rising.)
What if I told you that he shouldn't have a pay salary. Preaching Gods word shouldn't cost anyone anything.When you are doing Gods calling you are doing it for free. Even Jesus as he went to spread the good word of Jehovah (Psalms 83:18 if you are wondering who Jehovah is) he wasn't charging people. Why can't the money that people choose to donate be used for keeping the lights on in the building. Should the pastor not take up a small trade to provide for his family and still be able to preach Gods Word? Luke 12:22-25 when you have faith in Jehovah God you aren't worried about your cost of living. But he knows we still need to survive as well that is why he leaves the scripture Matthew 6:31-32.
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All of us live with "normal cost." The only difference is the difference you get fixed on -- what we all consider "normal." My brother thinks "normal" is to have a fountain leading to his in-ground pool. My idea of normal is to have a container garden on a small slab of concrete as a backyard. Both, ultimately are "normal." lol
I did not mean the old western houses... but something like this:Masonry Design: European construction versus North American construction
Of course, I get that skyscrapers etc are not from wood, but I meant houses where most families live.
And I do not say its worse, I just do not understand why are these houses so expensive, then.
I looked at the photos
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I did not mean the old western houses... but something like this:Masonry Design: European construction versus North American construction
Of course, I get that skyscrapers etc are not from wood, but I meant houses where most families live.
And I do not say its worse, I just do not understand why are these houses so expensive, then.
The proper salary for a pastor is what covers his needs,which the early Church had all things common,and shared,and sold all the things that were not a necessity,and distributed the money as each person had need.
We are only to go by our needs,and not our wants,for God loves people not blessing the saints with money for their wants.
We are only to go by our needs,and not our wants,for God loves people not blessing the saints with money for their wants.
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Our old pastor made a moderate income as pastor. He made money selling books. Our church was the largest within our presbytery, and coveted because, yes, we could get the best of the whole country. But, no, it was still always all about God. We have elders. Even what most consider "the pastor" was just a specific kind of elder. (Teaching Elder. The Ruling Elders do the shepherding work and the missionary work for the community.) People wanted the job -- either kind of elders -- because of all the other elders. Imagine landing a job in Corinth of old compared to landing a job in Jerusalem. Corinth is going to be good hard work, but to hang out with other apostles? You learn so much by hanging with other men of God.
My old pastor is someone you can look up in wiki. His name was James Montgomery Boise. The pastor before him was Donald Barnhouse. Yes, they really were pastors. They were also pillars within my denomination. They worked together with other pastors from other presbyteries to come up with decisive doctrine and beliefs. Not the ones resolved years ago. The ones we need now to explain why we canNOT unite with the RCC. Why we canNOT unite with Methodists. And yet, they are also there to show what's wrong with other denominational teaching. (Imputed means something. If you don't believe what imputed really means, we cannot agree.) All that while their biggest job was always to teach the ones who come on Sunday.
Don't be thinking it's all about greed. It's all about making sure we do not become the PC-USA!
(BTW, he didn't keep the money from book sales. He used that money to further the Lord's kingdom.)
My old pastor is someone you can look up in wiki. His name was James Montgomery Boise. The pastor before him was Donald Barnhouse. Yes, they really were pastors. They were also pillars within my denomination. They worked together with other pastors from other presbyteries to come up with decisive doctrine and beliefs. Not the ones resolved years ago. The ones we need now to explain why we canNOT unite with the RCC. Why we canNOT unite with Methodists. And yet, they are also there to show what's wrong with other denominational teaching. (Imputed means something. If you don't believe what imputed really means, we cannot agree.) All that while their biggest job was always to teach the ones who come on Sunday.
Don't be thinking it's all about greed. It's all about making sure we do not become the PC-USA!
(BTW, he didn't keep the money from book sales. He used that money to further the Lord's kingdom.)
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That's what I said to do.
No, it's God's way of keeping false ungodly creeps, or just the uncalled, out of the pulpit.
Paul said his pay is commensurate with his service. You don't give money away to the unspiritual and uncalled who don't belong in the pulpit and aren't benefiting your spiritual growth, and you give double to those who are doubly doing that. Simple. Problem solved. That keeps the false pastor who's not teaching the truth out of your church and keeps the real pastor who is, paid.
The uncalled, ineffective pastor can't feed his unspiritual, fleshly self interest in such a system. He'll move along to a false church where he can. Or quit the ministry, as he should because that's not his calling, and go back to secular work. That's what God wants. That's how you get it done.
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This is exactly the problem.
Nothing wrong with making a living. In fact, that's what all of us, pastor included, are supposed to do. But if the pastor wants to prosper, for whatever the reason (family, home, etc.) God's prosperity plan is that you be doubly good at what you do and be paid doubly well for it.
Until you experience it from both sides, you won't understand how well God's plan for payment in ministry can work so well. Blessed people give, and will give abundantly if blessed abundantly. Those who did the blessing receive, and will receive abundantly if the blessing they give is abundant. A set salary defeats this plan almost entirely. And, worse, doesn't do well in keeping unspiritual, even evil pastors not called to the ministry out of the pulpit.