[Prayer Warrior]

https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/1931177807767535857 Governor Newsom mentioned that since Californians pay the most taxes to the federal government by dollar amount (80 billion) maybe they ought to consider withholding that money. I agree! People who pay a higher dollar amount in taxes should have the right to withhold that money! Maybe we should have some sort of taxation cap! Let's start with the rich people in California.

https://www.cato.org/blog/its-tax-se...x%20payments,h ave%20been%20increasing%20over%20time.

https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/federal/latest-federal-income-tax-data-2024/

Data on income tax payments and estimates from the Treasury Department show that the US federal tax system is highly progressive. The top 10 percent of income earners pay more than 60 percent of all federal taxes and 72 percent of income taxes, shares that have been increasing over time.

The top 10% in the United States are paying about 1.5 trillion in taxes each year, with an effective tax rate of about 21.5%! bottom 50% on the other hand, despite earning about 1.5 trillion put together, paid a measly 51 billion or an effective rate of only 3.3%!

Time to stop freeloading off the donor class. If it applies to states it should apply to individuals and corporations too! Maybe Newsom can get started on repealing the 16th Amendment.

[Dr. Anthony J. Toole]

Brother I agree, the deadweight of labor on our country's economy is not something that can be swept away with an accounting trick. Simply put, we need at least 20 million working class families to do the honorable thing and kill themselves after the newly commissioned DOGE borg takes their jobs. They understand it's not personal, it's for the greater cause of Making America Great Again by not making the President look bad on unemployment numbers.

[Johny Joe Hold]

Brother I agree, the deadweight of labor on our country's economy is not something that can be swept away with an accounting trick.

Since way back, we in the higher class have had higher tax rates than those lazy people at the bottom. Lower classes have built up a debt that they owe to us. It's time to start paying us back. Congress and the President are on the right track but loan payments need to be accelerated. I suppose the government could move things along by taking assets of the lower income people the distributing them to us. Honestly, though, I don't want a 20 year old rust bucket car with old diapers on the floor. Cash is what I am owed and that's what I want.

[Basilissa]

Simply put, we need at least 20 million working class families to do the honorable thing and kill themselves after the newly commissioned DOGE borg takes their jobs.

Not just DOGE - AI in general. CEO's can sleep soundly, it's the entry-level plankton that is becoming obsolete now:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2023/03/31/goldman-sachs-predicts-300-million-jobs-will-be-lost-or-degraded-by-artificial-intelligence/

[Dr. Anthony J. Toole]

Not just DOGE - AI in general. CEO's can sleep soundly, it's the entry-level plankton that is becoming obsolete now

Sister, at least plankton do something. I'm hard pressed to think of a single thing that the "working" class do that cannot be outsourced to China or just not done at all. They talk about "services" - pfft - more government waste, circular make-work that doesn't result in the extraction of profit. Absolutely pointless.

After the Great Off Switch button is finished being pressed we'll see what returns organically when the free market is liberated to optimize society unburdened by lazy, entitled labor.

[Johny Joe Hold]

Re: Pray for Less Stress Among the Super Rich

Speaking of Matthew 19:24,... Those assets are still on earth, rightfully inherited by the rich man's children

I'm concerned for the mental well-being of the three oldest Trump children. They have been dealt a serious blow. Their mother was Trump's first wife, Ivana. After Ivana and Donald were divorced, the three eldest had to endure the inevitable decline in their inheritances. First another half sibling, Tiffany, was born. There went 25% of Donald's estate. Then Baron was added. Now 40% is gone. Even if Donald's estate is a mere five billion, an entire billion is gone. The depression and disappointment of Don Jr., Eric and Ivanka is understandable.

The three eldest held out one hope, however. Their mother, Ivana, was a wealthy woman. Her estate would be theirs' alone. One of Evana's large assets was her Manhattan town house. Since her death, the three Trump's expected to divide $22.5 million from the sale. Years have gone by and it seems the community of super rich are boycotting the Trump children, wanting to embarrass and humiliate them. No buyer. The asking price has already lowered by $5 million and yet remains not sold. The three have to be wondering why they are being deprived of what is so rightfully their inheritance.

Don Jr., Eric and Ivanka are experiencing a lot of stress just now and need our prayers.

Exclusive | Ivana Trump's NYC townhouse just saw another price cut

[MitzaLizalor]

Does the pastoral team have a ministry in Manhattan? This could be a real bargain! And with respect to Pastor Flint's 'plane, I gather they have reasonable luggage space with drive-on drive-off facilities and noticed this model announced recently. Among the wealthy it's important to co-ordinate one's accessories (such as a car) with general expectations. In this case I think it would also co-ordinate with the accommodation, pictured above.

[Johny Joe Hold]

I'm praying for Melania today. She is often overshadowed by our wonderful President. I feel we should support her efforts when she tries to succeed. Just now she has a great idea. She is selling Christmas tree ornaments that have a patriotic theme. They are perfect for our 250th year. Talk about a bargain. She is offering a set of six for only $465.00. Let's pray and buy to help Melania.

'Grifter' Melania Trump Ripped Over Expensive Christmas Ornaments | HuffPost Latest News

[Ezekiel Bathfire]

I have ordered 60 of these (10 x box of 6) through the Tithe Fund. I'm sure that in years to come, these will be as collectable as Nixon Memorabilia.

[Johny Joe Hold]

I have ordered 60 of these (10 x box of 6) through the Tithe Fund. I'm sure that in years to come, these will be as collectable as Nixon Memorabilia.

I'm glad you are practicing good stewardship of Landover's money, Pastor Bathfire. I only wish we would have had that foresight with Nixon commemorative plates. They cost only $20 when Nixon was in office about 50 years ago. Now some bring over $30.

[Johny Joe Hold]

We at Landover Baptist know the value of the ultra wealthy to society. Other Christians fall under the false notion the very rich are bad. These Christians in name only preach that wealthy people are happier after they give away their money. They misinterpret Matt. 6;19-21 which says "Do not lay up treasures on earth.."

False Christians do not understand this passage in Matthew. It is referring to people who have little money. These people need to spend their money so they do not accumulate and compete with the Godly wealthy. The wealthy need to be protected because they constantly worry about the poor trying to get their money.

A Christian Plan to Help Billionaires | Sojourners

[MitzaLizalor]

A Christian Plan to Help Billionaires | Sojourners

“Think about billionaires for a moment. Nobody needs a billion dollars.”

They do if they're going to set up a major manufacturing facility or develop mining and smelting operations (to supply the manufacturers with metal) and what about oil refineries? They don't look cheap!



Of course there are places where nobody has a billion dollars, or even a few hundred. Generally they don't have houses either but a grass hut can be very comfortable. And they don't complain about billionaires or not having any food because tractors cost money and they'd have to be manufactured by billionaires and run on fuel refined by another billionaire and since they don't have any billionaires, nobody has employment to earn money to buy anything unless they paid in yams. That is the archetypal billionaire-free society. What did Jesus say about frugal versus wise investors? Who should bolster whom?

Matthew 25:14-28

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country* who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded^† with the same, and made them other five talents.

17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two^‡

18-26 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers^§ and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him^¶ and give it unto him which hath ten^# talents.

.
.

* A capitalist.
† Lassez-faire capitalism vs mercantilism.
‡ The profit motive.
§ A viable stock exchange requires blue chip companies, sustained by billionaires.
¶ The donor now has nothing.
# The recipient now has eleven talents. QED.

[Johny Joe Hold]

I was pleased to learn other evangelical churches are also treating rich people fairly. The last thing the rich need is some priest or preacher misinterpreting Mathew 19:24 where Jesus says it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to get into heaven. Baptist preachers across the country know this passage refers to a certain kind of rich man, not the rich in their churches nor the rich in Landover Baptist. Jesus was referring to the rich who do not tithe and hold no positions of authority in their church. Those who help pay the pastor well hold prominent positions in churches do not have to worry about Jesus' disapproval or the heavenly afterlife.

Some professor studied sermons of mega churches and found the pastors were very complimentary of the rich. They explained it is fine to be rich. It's also fine there some are poor, the preachers said. God bless these Bible-reading preachers.

Sermons at large evangelical church tend to justify economic inequality, study finds

[Dr. Anthony J. Toole]

Some professor studied sermons of mega churches and found the pastors were very complimentary of the rich. They explained it is fine to be rich. It's also fine there some are poor, the preachers said. God bless these Bible-reading preachers.

Yes Mr, Mayor. There is a spiritual battle going on. The government shutdown is just one of the fronts. Either the lazy poor voluntarily give up their entitled attitudes or we will do take it away forcefully. It's much like the Middle East peace plan - either the Palestinians self-deport to Greenland or Egypt, nobody cares really, or their lazy, entitled asses can remain on their couches while we deport them for their own benefit.