Back in 1965, a local congregation opened the Christian Service Center. In Abilene a number of religious groups provide benevolence so the CSC may not be unique. But it's the one I know about so please let it represent the groups you know about. In fact, go ahead and leave a comment with the info about other centers in the area.
For close to 50 years now, the Christian Service Center in Abilene has been providing blue jeans and underwear for kids. Sure they provide other things but I think about blue jeans when I think of the CSC. And I think of my dad. My dad grew up during the Depression on an East Texas farm with a number of brothers and sisters. He's approaching 90 now but still has a very warm place in his memory for the uncle who bought him a pair of shoes so he didn't have to walk to school barefoot. Clothing for school age kids makes an impact. The Christian Service Center is good4Abilene.
Benevolence is tough. I spent almost 30 years as a congregation's representative meeting with folks in need. Gut level -- it tore me up. I didn't feel right if I didn't help but for some "askers" I sure didn't feel right if I did.
There's been plenty of rhetoric raised by the recent election. Let's talk a bit about "givers" and "takers." Isn't it strange that all the folks talking about this are "givers"? I wonder what the "takers" are saying. More than that, I wonder who would be willing to be labeled as a "taker."
Everybody who's dabbled in this area has stories. Some of them are encouraging. Let me go ahead and admit that I'm likely to come across as selfish and cold hearted in this discussion. The first stories that come to my mind are the negative ones that reinforce stereotypes. But I also remember the encouraging ones like the time I went out to the mailbox and found $3 and a note. According to the note the money was from someone who'd received gasoline from the church. He wanted to provide some return on that investment.
For close to 50 years now, the Christian Service Center in Abilene has been providing blue jeans and underwear for kids. Sure they provide other things but I think about blue jeans when I think of the CSC. And I think of my dad. My dad grew up during the Depression on an East Texas farm with a number of brothers and sisters. He's approaching 90 now but still has a very warm place in his memory for the uncle who bought him a pair of shoes so he didn't have to walk to school barefoot. Clothing for school age kids makes an impact. The Christian Service Center is good4Abilene.
Benevolence is tough. I spent almost 30 years as a congregation's representative meeting with folks in need. Gut level -- it tore me up. I didn't feel right if I didn't help but for some "askers" I sure didn't feel right if I did.
There's been plenty of rhetoric raised by the recent election. Let's talk a bit about "givers" and "takers." Isn't it strange that all the folks talking about this are "givers"? I wonder what the "takers" are saying. More than that, I wonder who would be willing to be labeled as a "taker."
Everybody who's dabbled in this area has stories. Some of them are encouraging. Let me go ahead and admit that I'm likely to come across as selfish and cold hearted in this discussion. The first stories that come to my mind are the negative ones that reinforce stereotypes. But I also remember the encouraging ones like the time I went out to the mailbox and found $3 and a note. According to the note the money was from someone who'd received gasoline from the church. He wanted to provide some return on that investment.
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