Pastor Claude Thomas Online

By Kingsley Nwamaka

The great depression of the early 20th century in the U.S laid the groundwork for the welfare programs we are used to today. In reaction to this great economic disaster, the president, Franklin Roosevelt sought to stabilize the country, largely by initiating social programs. In the beginning, these social programs were based on the recipient working for the check. But as the welfare state grew, welfare receipt required no work and provided more remuneration than some jobs. Thus people lost the motivation for hard work and depended entirely on the welfare pay packet.

By 1970, it was financially better to go on welfare than to take a minimum wage job. Welfare, rather that helping people out of a bad situation, created a culture of government dependency- a far worse situation. That was not the vision in the beginning. The programs was a sought of a temporary measure to handle to emergency of those those days. Unfortunately, it has becomes a permanent feature of our economic landscape thereby hurting every one along the way- government and the individual inclusive.

It should be noted that human nature-every one’s human nature- is happy and satisfied to take a free lunch, but as Benjamin Franklin noted “I think the best way of doing good to the poor is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it”

They need to be taught and given the right information and given the necessary incentives. The solution lies in teaching our people to discover their strength and use them for their own profit and welfare.

By Fatemeh Azimzadeh

The public welfare in the United States is formed to save money instead of people and to provide better living for all the people, but it transpires doing neither of them. There are two main reasons for it:

First, it neglects a large number of people who are in need and if they are provided with some support will be much more productive and autonomous. Some millions of them are not aged, disabled, handicapped or parent of minor children; they are just needy unemployed and underemployed men and women waiting for protection by government.

Second, people who are included in the welfare programs, but they are provided with minimum assistance to live an honorable life will remain dependent on the welfare, with a lot of restrictions, undermining their self-worth and dignity.

There is a confusion of statutory administrative practices and regulations that the recipients are measured unrestrained, untrustworthy and lazy. The newly arrived ones to the states are not provided with the assistance, because of the residence requirements, for instance. If officials’ agents search their homes it is privacy violation. More, problems are combined with unacceptable social services. So, it is not a well-balanced whole.

The term welfare in the U.S commonly refers to the programs that are government-funded. Unemployed and underemployed men and women are provided with economic supports, goods and services. Professionals call it social welfare that contains any programs that support people to perform better in the society.

There are more than one hundred and twenty welfare programs in the federal government of the United States. There always have been controversies over it and the main question has been on its existence, whether it should be or not. The number of programs is so many that actually some think, the government interferes the free enterprise system, though it must subsidize the system. The principle investment of major industries such as telecommunication, aerospace and biotechnology has not been provided by the government to run their tasks, government funds are given freely to corporations but they do not announce it. Welfare corporate has not been considered debilitating.

Welfare system should protect citizens of societies against anguish and agony effects of poverty. Since it does not end the dependency of people on governments; many believe it can not create a society free from unemployment.

In the other hand not all people can work, very young, very old and disabled are among those. There are sometimes not enough work opportunities even for those who can work properly. The United States is one of the countries with free-market economy and a certain percent of capable working-age adults will always remain unemployed and that is due the technological and job skill changes happening day by day. The rates of unemployment regionally and from season to season are different. So welfare can assist the segments and fragments of population.

That was early19th century that local governments started to provide for poor new opportunities, by different ways such as contracting with wealthy families to help them, locating them in workhouses or providing them with cash or goods. Some politicians expressed their concerns however. A reform movement happened in many states 182os and 1830s to rehabilitate the poor by replacing outdoor relief with workhouses. The second reform efforts happened in 1880s and 1890s to improve their social functioning and encouraging them to be independent through social work. Opposition existed, but welfare did not disappear. The Congress supported different programs to expand public provisions for the poor. Establishing mother’ pensions for poor mothers mostly widows and workers’ compensation programs came in to being by early twentieth century.

During the worst years of great depression nearly one-fourth of labor force was jobless and much more poor households were poor by current standards. The development of the US modern welfare dates to 1930s. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the one who led a new reform movement, economically and socially. The Social Security Act was part of his New Deal program which established a number of welfare programs. Each of them was designed to protect different segments of population, for retired people and their families, for dependent children and those who lost their jobs temporarily. In 1946 The Social Security Administration was established by government.

The other establishments were Federal Security Agecy1939, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare 1953, the Department of Health and Human Services 1980 and the Department of Housing and Urban Development 1965.The Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Treasury as well as the Department of Labor manage some different welfare programs. Funding for such programs has increased especially for working poor families.

Government’s welfare programs are performed in different ways, distributing direct cash, certain goods such as public housing, subsidized rents, and coupons to buy food or the means to obtain services. The government decides to whom or how much welfare must be provided and that is based on the economic well-being. As soon as the recipient’s income increases, the welfare programs fall. Some are restricted programs to control those meeting additional benefits. Members of specific groups deserve certain forms of welfare. For example, elderly people or those with mental or physical disabilities get several supports that are especially for them. Other disadvantaged people are students, unpaid workers like mothers and caregivers and minority groups who are provided with a minimum level of income.

Welfare creates problems, too. If the recipients earn more money their benefits may fall and they will have to pay taxes, so some people prefer to remain on welfare and not to look for jobs. Some other people who work but their income is not enough can not neglect the benefits of welfare, either. Moreover, some change their behaviors to be eligible for advantages could be obtained from welfare, for instance a young parent may not marry again just to enjoy the benefits of welfare.

Democrats and Republicans have different ideas over the issue of welfare; Republicans desire is to make conditions well enough for more work and less dependency on welfare .They support time limits on welfare. They believe welfare should promise the recipients and their children education or job trainings. The welfare recipients must be free from drug and they must get proper immunizations. The welfare reform should not cost more than existing programs.

Democrats on the other hand vote against requirement of time limits on welfare and the programs making recipients work. Under the present Democrat administration Florida for example, gives away millions of dollars each year to individuals who do not deserve receiving the benefits.

Critics have argued over different programs to get what they think is the best one. Time limit programs or the money devoted for job trainings are among the matters they argue over.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas

There is a principle here: You find solutions when you share your problems with someone very close to you. And who is closer than Jesus? It is a privilege to be able to pour out our hearts to Him. And the great news is that He understands and responds. He knows how we feel, because He has experienced the same pain we have. The Bible says…
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
When David felt despair, he cried out to God. He said, “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.” (Psalm 3:4). On another occasion David cried, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me? forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Psalm 13:1, 2). You don’t have to read the Psalms for very long to discover that David freely poured out his heart to God.
David isn’t the only one in Scripture who cried out boldly to God. Moses did. Job did. Isaiah did. Paul did. Each one of them cried out to God in times of great difficulty.
So, what should we do? We should cry out to the Lord. Being honest with God about the way we feel is the beginning to finding real help. He hears and delights in responding to us! And we find solutions when we share our feelings of despair with God.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas

The way popular media portrays the family has changed in the last fifty years. In the fifties we saw the family through the experiences of a little boy named Beaver and his family in “Leave it to Beaver”.
That portrayal of the family continued to dominate the scene into the eighties with popular TV Shows like the Cosby’s. But some changes were being made with Al Bundy and “Married With children”.

But in the nineties and into the 21st century other changes have been made. It is seen in “Will and Grace,” and “Friends” with Rachel and Ross.
From the 1950’s to today there has been a change in how the family is viewed and valued. How should we view and value the family? To answer that question we do not go to popular culture but we go to the reliable, relevant, absolute, and authoritative truth. We turn the Scriptures.

In Ephesians 5:22-6:4, Paul explicitly communicates the view we should have of family. And it is a view of relationships… right relationships and the right kinds of relationships. The relationship between a husband and wife is one of love and mutual respect. The relationship between parent and child is one of love, responsibility, and respect. And these relationships are nurtured in the context of an overarching relationship with God through faith in Christ.

So, we unite our families and the uniting of our families is good for all of us!

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas
We are encouraged to manage our priorities because we can all become victims of what someone called “the tyranny of the urgent.” But before talking about managing or priorities, we need to determine if our priorities are worth managing.
What are you chasing? That question was asked of a group of men and prompted my thoughts. The speaker told of his own experience. He had given himself to chasing bigger deals, bigger cars, bigger houses, bigger reputation, and a bigger bank account.
Whatever we chase reveals what we value. And everyone is chasing something. The question is what? If we truly want to know the answer, someone has suggested that a review of the checkbook and the planner will give good insight. These will tell us what our priorities are and priorities will determine what we chase. Are they worth while?
The answer to that is found in the heart. Proverbs 4:24 says, “Guard the heart … it is the well-spring of life.” Our priorities flow out of the heart. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Lk.12:34). Healthy priorities come from a healthy heart. So, let’s put our hearts under the care of a great cardiologist.
His name? Oh yes. His name is Jesus.

We live in a rapidly paced world. In a matter of a few hours you can leave New York and be in London. That’s great! But with that ability, we also can end up being caught up in the demands of living in a fast-paced world. And that will create stress.
Stress is a real problem in our world. When we have a physical, part of the exam is to determine how well we are able to deal with stress. Seminars are given to help us handle stress in life. It’s real.
How do we handle it? There are some simple but helpful and effective hints to handling stress. We see them from a look at how Jesus dealt with one of the most stressful times in His life… just before He went to the cross.
First, remember you have a purpose in life. It is relational in nature. It is our relationship to God and others (Mark 12: 30, 31). So, keep the focus on that primary purpose will alleviate some of the stress caused by secondary issues.
Second, take your concerns to God in prayer. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus faced the stress of the cross and the sins of the world. What did He do? He prayed. And so can we! In open, honest conversation, we talk to Him about the stressful matters of life.
Third, talk to some close friends about the most stressful matters of your life. Jesus did that in the Upper Room.
And finally, 1) do the best you are able 2) with what you have 3) where you are. Then you can trust God to make up any difference or deficit you might feel.
Pat Williams and my friend Jay Strack remind us in their book, Success Secrets of Shamgar, that these are principles of success.
I have discovered that following these helpful hints will help relieve the stresses of life.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas
Are you anxious about your future…your past…or today? Anxiety or worry, as we most often call it, is a real part of life! The real question is this: How do I deal with it without allowing it to become a destructive force in my life?
Well I don’t know anyone who pretends to have all the answers to that question. But here are some suggestions for consideration.
1) Admit it! If you are experiencing anxiety don’t deny it. Admit it. The beginning to dealing with anxiety is to acknowledge that the problem exists.
2) Acknowledge you don’t have to give in to it. While anxiety is a real problem, it is equally true that it can be successfully addressed.
3) Remember that Christ will help you. Jesus said in Matthew 6 that His followers were not to be anxious. Rather they were to trust Him and all the things they normally worry about would be taken care of.
The apostle Peter said we were to give Christ all our cares because He cares for us.
May I encourage you? The sovereign God cares for you and me…and He is able to do all He has said He will do. He also cares enough to do what He said He will do. So we can trust Jesus to take care of us.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas
She just didn’t seem to fit in anywhere. She went here and she went there but she didn’t find acceptance until she met Jesus.
When she met Him everything seemed to change. Her whole outlook changed. She showed she felt better about herself and others too!
Who are we talking about? We are talking about the woman caught in sexual misconduct. She was looking in the wrong places and to the wrong people for affirmation and acceptance. But when she met the Lord all that changed in her life.
We are told that rejection is one of the most difficult things in life to overcome. Why? We all need to feel and be accepted. But the sad thing of life is we have refined the art of rejecting people who don’t fit into our “molds.” So, where do we turn to be accepted? Where do we go for affirmation?
Well, we go to Someone Who loves us unconditionally and did all necessary to accept us. Jesus did that for the woman who knew the horrors of rejection. I believe He is still doing that for people today. Do you fell you need that today? Then turn to Him in faith right now.
He is ready to accept us when we accept Him as Lord and Savior of our lives. Then, we are on the road to feeling acceptance ourselves.

Author: Pastor Claude Thomas
I remember coming home to the smell of food, a warm house, a big hug from my mom, and a word to encourage me. It sure made me feel good. There are some things that just stand out in life … and those hugs and encouraging words do.
I’ve wondered why that was so important to me and is so firmly fixed in my mind. I think I’ve found out why. It was a recurring encouragement! I experienced it almost every day.
Author and friend, John Maxwell, said it like this: Encouragement enables us to persevere like nothing else (Encouragement Changes Everything).
The bible says encouragement is often found in a well spoken word. The writer of Proverbs has a lot to say about the influence of our words. He said “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21). He also said that “Good words can make an anxious heart glad.”(12:25). He said a timely word is “delightful” (Proverbs 25:23).
How about it? Do we all agree that a word of encouragement would be helpful to someone? So, let’s be encouragers and say a good word to someone today.

Author: Kathryn Seifert
As we all watch the horrific devastation in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon on the news day after day, glued to the “tube,” we have to be thinking, “Where does it end? When does it end? Will it ever end?” Periodic military and diplomatic solutions in the Middle East since 1949 have attempted to provide a lasting peace in the region. And yet, here we are again, in the middle of a war that has both local and global implications.

For terrorists, beyond patriotism and self defense, is the ability to kill innocents, non-combatants with no hesitation or regret. It becomes a strategy of war. What enters or does not enter the minds of terrorists? What does it take for someone to grow up to be a terrorist? It was reported that a Hezbollah member stated that they will be triumphant because they love death and the Israelis love life. How can someone have no respect for human life? Many, if not all terrorists seek power and control regardless of means. They see violence as a means to that end. This is instrumental violence. It does not differ from criminal violence anywhere in the world and likely has the same roots.

Criminal violence has it beginning in the abuse, neglect, loss of parents, and exposure to violence in early childhood resulting in disruptions in attachments. Those with disrupted attachments fail to reach pro-social maturity interpersonally, in affect regulation and self control, and in moral development. They may not understand human reciprocity. Relationships are superficial. They may have little or no empathy or remorse. To them the world is not safe and they must always be on the offensive in order to be safe. Generations of war and violence in the Middle East continues to produce more terrorists. Children are not safe and they become orphaned. They are exposed to violence daily during times of open conflict and always have the fear of a new attack. The effect of this environment on everyone, especially young children can be psychologically devastating.

The world finds itself in a quandary. How do we defend ourselves against these people who do not value life as we do without creating more terrorists? The answer is we cannot. War and violence inevitably creates more terrorists. In addition to efforts already underway, massive humanitarian aid to the region is what will curb the growing problem of terrorism. Children and their families must be safe and well cared for so that they will not become cold, heartless and violent. Street children, one of the ripest recruiting grounds for terrorist organizations, must be well cared for and not left to be recruited by terrorists.

Terrorism will not end of its own accord. People must protect and defend themselves, as terrorists will not stop. Additionally, terrorism will not end by humanitarian aid alone. Everyone knows that a long term solution is needed. However, a permanent end to war, humanitarian aid and services for those who have lost loved ones, those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and children with attachments disrupted by war may have a chance of reducing terrorism in the Middle Eastern Region in the future.