Three Issues

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By -

Editor, Times-Union:

Well, just when I think I have heard it all, something new comes up that just boggles my mind.

According to some group, the "Book It" program that Pizza Hut sponsors is a detriment to our children's health and a corporate solicitation and nothing else. Oh, my goodness, what is the world coming to?

First, my grandson is part of this program through Manchester Schools, and what a wonderful way to get kids interested in reading. It requires a child to read so many minutes a week (like 70 for his class). Now 70 minutes of reading a week does not seem like a lot, but try and get an 8-year-old to sit down for 15 minutes a night and read. This gives him incentive and reward all wrapped up in one. Now I am sure there are other ways to do it. But "thank you," Pizza Hut, for the financial giving and the corporate support of this fantastic program. Yes, I would eat at Pizza Hut because they do this, but any other company could have done the same and didn't. Give corporate America a break - at least somebody is doing something that is good for our children.

I see where Ted Haggard's church had to lay off 40-plus workers because of his indiscretion of sleeping with someone other than his wife and several other things not worthy of print. I take it the attendance is down at the church for this reason. Leaves me to believe the people leaving didn't come to the church for the Word of God but for the word of Ted Haggard. We are all sinners, folks, and some of us are saved by grace, but that does not change the fact that as Christians we can make some big mistakes and fall very very short of our responsibilities. You go to church not because of the hype and glory of those leading, but because you want to worship the Savior who sacrificed His life so that we might have eternal life. I know you must like that person standing in the pulpit, but he/she is not the reason you attend?

This morning on WBCL I heard a gentleman, Arthur Moore, talk about his new book. It is on the art of giving. He said something very interesting and backs up what I have believed for a long time. Those who give voluntarily such as tithing and giving to Good Will, Salvation Army and the like give more across the board than those people who believe somehow the government should fill in the gaps for the lack of finances some people may encounter. First, it is the church's responsibility to take care of the poor and indigent, not the government's. If we in the church were giving like we should, there would be finances enough to cover this cost. My point being it is the poorer and middle class folks in the church who tithe ... as always 10 percent do the work and the other 90 percent complain about how it is done. So all these churches out there who solicit the upper echelon because they think it will bring in big bucks are sorely mistaken.

I have had several people ask me when I was going to write again, so for them I hope this is what you had in mind. "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill.

Phyllis L. Barger

North Manchester, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]

Editor, Times-Union:

Well, just when I think I have heard it all, something new comes up that just boggles my mind.

According to some group, the "Book It" program that Pizza Hut sponsors is a detriment to our children's health and a corporate solicitation and nothing else. Oh, my goodness, what is the world coming to?

First, my grandson is part of this program through Manchester Schools, and what a wonderful way to get kids interested in reading. It requires a child to read so many minutes a week (like 70 for his class). Now 70 minutes of reading a week does not seem like a lot, but try and get an 8-year-old to sit down for 15 minutes a night and read. This gives him incentive and reward all wrapped up in one. Now I am sure there are other ways to do it. But "thank you," Pizza Hut, for the financial giving and the corporate support of this fantastic program. Yes, I would eat at Pizza Hut because they do this, but any other company could have done the same and didn't. Give corporate America a break - at least somebody is doing something that is good for our children.

I see where Ted Haggard's church had to lay off 40-plus workers because of his indiscretion of sleeping with someone other than his wife and several other things not worthy of print. I take it the attendance is down at the church for this reason. Leaves me to believe the people leaving didn't come to the church for the Word of God but for the word of Ted Haggard. We are all sinners, folks, and some of us are saved by grace, but that does not change the fact that as Christians we can make some big mistakes and fall very very short of our responsibilities. You go to church not because of the hype and glory of those leading, but because you want to worship the Savior who sacrificed His life so that we might have eternal life. I know you must like that person standing in the pulpit, but he/she is not the reason you attend?

This morning on WBCL I heard a gentleman, Arthur Moore, talk about his new book. It is on the art of giving. He said something very interesting and backs up what I have believed for a long time. Those who give voluntarily such as tithing and giving to Good Will, Salvation Army and the like give more across the board than those people who believe somehow the government should fill in the gaps for the lack of finances some people may encounter. First, it is the church's responsibility to take care of the poor and indigent, not the government's. If we in the church were giving like we should, there would be finances enough to cover this cost. My point being it is the poorer and middle class folks in the church who tithe ... as always 10 percent do the work and the other 90 percent complain about how it is done. So all these churches out there who solicit the upper echelon because they think it will bring in big bucks are sorely mistaken.

I have had several people ask me when I was going to write again, so for them I hope this is what you had in mind. "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill.

Phyllis L. Barger

North Manchester, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Triton School Board Hears About New Graduation Requirements
BOURBON – Triton School Board heard Monday about the high school diploma requirements.

Warsaw Schools Offers Educational Services To Kids Before Kindergarten
Before they even get to kindergarten, Warsaw Community Schools is helping to educate local children.

Traffic Visibility Concerns Expressed At Sidney Town Council Meeting
SIDNEY — The town council in Sidney had a discussion with Sidney business owners about visibility problems due to parking at the intersection of Center Street and Ind. 13.

Pierceton Council Supports Variance Request For LexLil Contracting
PIERCETON – The Pierceton Town Council voiced their support for a variance request regarding fencing at a local business during its Monday council meeting. Chris Staley, one of LexLil Contracting's owners, said Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Director Matt Sandy wants him to have fencing around the entirety of his business. If approved, the variance would permit LexLil Contracting to have 100% outside unscreened storage and display.

Upcoming Leesburg Events And Projects Discussed At Council Meeting
LEESBURG — Upcoming events and projects taking place in town were discussed at the Leesburg Town Council meeting Monday.