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an interesting thought
crazy4bam:
--- Quote from: markn902 on May 25, 2011, 01:45:02 PM ---Hi everyone :)
My wife had an interesting take on Acts 3 when we were reading it. It is where Peter heals a crippled beggar
Acts 3:8-10
8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
She said what struck her was that if this were to happen today, that is a crippled beggar getting up to walk, people would see it as that man was lying about his condition to get money. I think she is right that's what people would say if they saw a man crippled asking for money then later saw him walking. Even if he said it was a miracle we would say "yeah right"
I don't know I just thought it was an interesting observation and thought I would share
Mark
--- End quote ---
I read this and reread this. I will have to confess I am one of those people of today would just assume the man was scamming someone to get money. Today we all do that because it has happened so many times that our radar goes up and thinks this is a scam. When this situation happened people most likely didn't think of doing something so wrong. I am not saying it probably didn't happen but not on a grand scale like it is today.
using my own opinion,
crazy4bam
daywalker:
--- Quote from: markn902 on May 25, 2011, 01:45:02 PM ---
She said what struck her was that if this were to happen today, that is a crippled beggar getting up to walk, people would see it as that man was lying about his condition to get money. I think she is right thats what people would say if they saw a man crippled asking for money then later saw him walking. Even if he said it was a miracle we would say "yeah right"
I don't know I just thought it was an interesting observation and thought I would share
Mark
--- End quote ---
That is interesting and very true in my opinion.
When I still lived in Orange County, my friends and I hung out at this local coffee shop often. There were a few beggars who came there every night asking for change, and like the generous young kids we were, we would give them the change from our coffee purchases. Then one chilly night, one of them came by and he had this really nice brand new sports wind breaker jacket... I'm talking like $100 MINIMUM... I remember seeing his jacket, then realizing how cold I was in my hooded sweat jacket that was ready for an upgrade. When he asked me for change I told him 'no way' because I was a bit jealous that this bum had a better jacket than me. Of course, later I felt bad.... But then a few weeks later, here comes this bum again, with his jacket AND a brand new mountain bike! Alright, now I'm convinced there's something fishy going on here! Not too many days later, I was talking with a friend who worked at the coffee shop and she told me that the "bums" who all came here were not really bums at all! There was a group of five of them who all lived together in a house near-by and instead of working jobs like normal people, they all go out and beg for change, and stand out on the streets with "homeless" signs. She says one of the guys told her he makes on average $300 a day doing this!!! Talk about scam-artists! Since that day she told me all this I've NEVER looked at a bum the same...
Daywalker 8)
Deborah-Leigh:
Luk 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
Great catch Eirik ! ~ :D :)
Arc
moxicarose:
--- Quote from: daywalker on May 27, 2011, 10:59:21 AM ---
--- Quote from: markn902 on May 25, 2011, 01:45:02 PM ---
She said what struck her was that if this were to happen today, that is a crippled beggar getting up to walk, people would see it as that man was lying about his condition to get money. I think she is right thats what people would say if they saw a man crippled asking for money then later saw him walking. Even if he said it was a miracle we would say "yeah right"
I don't know I just thought it was an interesting observation and thought I would share
Mark
--- End quote ---
That is interesting and very true in my opinion.
When I still lived in Orange County, my friends and I hung out at this local coffee shop often. There were a few beggars who came there every night asking for change, and like the generous young kids we were, we would give them the change from our coffee purchases. Then one chilly night, one of them came by and he had this really nice brand new sports wind breaker jacket... I'm talking like $100 MINIMUM... I remember seeing his jacket, then realizing how cold I was in my hooded sweat jacket that was ready for an upgrade. When he asked me for change I told him 'no way' because I was a bit jealous that this bum had a better jacket than me. Of course, later I felt bad.... But then a few weeks later, here comes this bum again, with his jacket AND a brand new mountain bike! Alright, now I'm convinced there's something fishy going on here! Not too many days later, I was talking with a friend who worked at the coffee shop and she told me that the "bums" who all came here were not really bums at all! There was a group of five of them who all lived together in a house near-by and instead of working jobs like normal people, they all go out and beg for change, and stand out on the streets with "homeless" signs. She says one of the guys told her he makes on average $300 a day doing this!!! Talk about scam-artists! Since that day she told me all this I've NEVER looked at a bum the same...
Daywalker 8)
--- End quote ---
There is a huge network of people doing this in my city...I figured out that they were scammers when I saw a well dressed, nicely manicured girl walking with a backpack while reading a book (reading and walking...on a street. haha..danger much?) She stopped at the corner next to a (also well dressed) young guy in a nice winter coat and new tennis shoes who was holding a homeless sign, put her book in her backpack and took the sign from the guy, flipping it over to reveal a different begging message. What was even fishier was that the sign was LAMINATED, I'm guessing to keep it from getting soggy in our rainy climate.
I've struggled with wether or not I should ever give money to such people, but I think I've decided that if I have some change, and I stop on a corner where one of them is standing, I will give them the money in Jesus name. :)
jingle52:
Erick that was great ;D
Were I live, the gypsies/Romanians beg and go to the supermarket later in groups to do their daily shopping, pity that they mostly only buy beer and then sit outside slaking their thirst (women included). I’ve also given to them in the past, then there are those who sit around with 4 or 5 dogs and their pups (hoping that we’ll feel sorry at least for the dogs), there are those who sit and beg with their half drugged children because they are always asleep (here too, hoping we’ll have pity on their babies)….. and we’ve seen those very same people several times chatting on their cell-phones….. There are children who are bought in their country of origin, brought over here and then taught how to beg and snatch handbags from unsuspecting people… We have seen reports about how they go back to their own country to build houses which are the envy of their neighbours. Begging is big business here in Europe!
Thanks for that interesting thought Mark, thank you. :)
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