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SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 2:13:11 PM
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tomhillbilly
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the salvation army bell ringing recently started in my area-charleston,west virginia. Now the commercial i have seen on television has a nice, clean, well dressed (uniformed) lady ringing the bell. Speaking for my area, this is not an even somewhat fair representation of the people ringing th bell.
In the past,there have been many members of local churches who have been volunteers,im assuming. This isnt the case anymore at all, the people now are not clean, well dressed or members of any church much less the salvation army. Sadly they are the dregs of society working for minimum wage and do not present a positive impression. I dont mean to talk bad about these people, but they dont represent the mainstream people that attend church.
question: why are christians not doing this?
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 2:17:14 PM
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stellaluna
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How do you know they aren't Christians?
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 2:29:33 PM
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BarryLee
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Does the Salvation Army allow those they are assisting to help with the fund raising? If so these “dregs of society” as you put it might actually be what some would refer to as - our needy fellow citizens. The fact that they wish to assist with the fund raising and not just accept a hand out seems like a good thing.
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 3:24:55 PM
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earthless
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Tom,
How do you know these people are not Christians?
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 3:31:04 PM
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colliefan
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Most probably they ae not members of the SAm but volunteers, And why do you describe them as "the dregs of society? Simply b/c they don't fall into one of your aproved sterotypes.
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 3:31:19 PM
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GodsMusic
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If you do a investigating, don't be surprised if you find some of these bell ringers are actually performing court order community service, or are ringing for room and board.
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 4:49:02 PM
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Eutychus
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tomhillbilly
question: why are christians not doing this?
Could be that they're too busy shopping for the kids and family to spend time ringing a bell to help the less fortunate. KWIM?
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 5:16:03 PM
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colliefan
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quote:
Could be that they're too busy shopping for the kids and family to spend time ringing a bell to help the less fortunate.
Many years ago, I volunteered for an afternoon and had loads of fun talking with people.
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 6:10:44 PM
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tomhillbilly
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i know for a fact that they are not volunteers in my area. They are all getting paid minimum wage. I know also that the 'officers' or those that are full time employees of salvation army do not ring the bells. They work in the 'administrative' area of this undertaking.
As far as if or how many of these people are performing some sort of court-ordered community service i cant say. But if they are i would question whether they are positive representatives of the salvation army.
Trust me in that i know what is going on with this program in my area.
Also none of these people follow the dress code as prescribed in the salvation armys rules for bell ringers. This was one easy and obvious distinction between the church volunteers and those of the lowest social class of society. This points to a definite conflict with christian work ethic principles.
Let me explain that im in an area where there is a church on every corner. Im talking about ALOT OF CHRISTIANS! can you see why im dissappointed in that christians arent taking part in this?
The salvation army high ups must have decided that they have enough people willing to ring the bells for minimum wage, and that coordinating volunteers isnt worth the time
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 6:12:09 PM
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tomhillbilly
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oh what does KWIM mean eutychus?
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 6:12:59 PM
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earthless
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I am wondering what the dress code is for a Christian... so that he is not confused with the "lowest social class of society."
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 6:14:14 PM
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earthless
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tomhillbilly
oh what does KWIM mean eutychus?
KWIM = Know what I mean?
OM*
BFF
L8TR
BRIX
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 6:45:30 PM
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tomhillbilly
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whew! i guess im winnin friends and influencing people here....
listen folks: technically there is gonna be an exception or two. This does not change what im telling you is true. My point was not to focus on the social standing of the people ringing the bells. Trust me, this is obvious to everyone, and i promise you you wouldnt want to live in their world.
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 9:34:54 PM
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stephanos
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tomhillbilly
the salvation army bell ringing recently started in my area-charleston,west virginia. Now the commercial i have seen on television has a nice, clean, well dressed (uniformed) lady ringing the bell. Speaking for my area, this is not an even somewhat fair representation of the people ringing th bell.
In the past,there have been many members of local churches who have been volunteers,im assuming. This isnt the case anymore at all, the people now are not clean, well dressed or members of any church much less the salvation army. Sadly they are the dregs of society working for minimum wage and do not present a positive impression. I dont mean to talk bad about these people, but they dont represent the mainstream people that attend church.
question: why are christians not doing this?
Now I can understand why you cant/arnt willing to see your "teacher" for the racist he is.
Tell us...When you say "dregs of society" is that a code word for "blacks"? What does it matter what they are dressed like! Are you seriously not going to give because of how the person looks? If so, what does that say about YOU!
As for "mainstreem people that attend church"...seeing as you have admitted that you dont attend a church, how would YOU know what a "mainstream" church looks like? Or more to the point, how many types of churches have you attended? Have you attended a church in the "poor" section of town. You know, the churches where all those "dregs of society" worship? Or did you assume that all those "dregs" dont attend church at all?
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 9:41:04 PM
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earthless
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tomhillbilly
whew! i guess im winnin friends and influencing people here....
listen folks: technically there is gonna be an exception or two.
Please clarify your statement here. An exception or two of a person dressed well enough to be deemed a Christian by your standards?
Or an exception or two that these "dregs of society" are just human beings with problems like you and I?
quote:
ORIGINAL: tomhillbilly
This does not change what im telling you is true. My point was not to focus on the social standing of the people ringing the bells.
Could have fooled me, you made sure to make it the running theme of your posts.
quote:
ORIGINAL: tomhillbilly
Trust me, this is obvious to everyone, and i promise you you wouldnt want to live in their world.
What do you know of "their world" and how would I not know about it?
A lot of assumptions and ignorant comments being made tonight. But please correct me if I am wrong, perhaps I and everyone else are just utterly misunderstanding you.
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Probing Today's Religious Movements | Promoting Doctrinal Discernment & Critical Thinking | Providing Reasons for Christian Faith & Ethics
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 11:18:57 PM
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colliefan
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Isn't the goal of the SA to lift people from the streets and help them become productive members of society? Having a job ringing a bell could be a "baby step" to a more productive job.
Drugs and alcohol will do a number on one's apearance, But doesn't the good book tell us we are to judge on the internals rather than the externals? And I believe the sterotype of your moniker doesn't lend to one who would be on the cover of GQ.
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 11:29:14 PM
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GodsMusic
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Stephanos
Now I can understand why you cant/arnt willing to see your "teacher" for the racist he is.
Tell us...When you say "dregs of society" is that a code word for "blacks"? What does it matter what they are dressed like! Are you seriously not going to give because of how the person looks? If so, what does that say about YOU!
As for "mainstreem people that attend church"...seeing as you have admitted that you dont attend a church, how would YOU know what a "mainstream" church looks like? Or more to the point, how many types of churches have you attended? Have you attended a church in the "poor" section of town. You know, the churches where all those "dregs of society" worship? Or did you assume that all those "dregs" dont attend church at all?
Wow that was to the point, and well put I might add.
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/21/2008 11:35:36 PM
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tomhillbilly
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It was years ago that i rang the bell for the salvation army. I did it from 10 am to 8 pm monday-saturday for the two weeks leading up to christmas. Myself and one lady ringer were the only two that followed the dress code, and i believe the other guidelines. One big thing was to greet everyone entering and say "thank you" to everyone that shook the kitty. She consistently came in first with me running a close second in money collected. So i do think our appearance mattered and it does today as well.
I should add that the 'captain' who ran the bell ringers was a fantastic gentleman. He had the faith to allow me to skip the preliminary morning standing around doing nothing and show up directly at my site,which was sams club.
More recently i was going to ring it again from start to finish, but there was a new 'captain' running it. So at the end of the day i asked if i could do the same as i did before. Ok here is where im gonna sound 'insensitive' again. I can only describe this new guy as mean and ugly. im tellin ya he acted like what in the world was i doing wasting his time with stupid questions. So he tells me "you gotta work up to that". Obviously he hadnt checked my record as #2 money maker, never late and always worked the entire shift.
so ill ask another question: who used righteous judgement here, me or him?
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/22/2008 12:04:30 AM
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GodsMusic
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Well Tom, if all you're saying is take a little pride in everything you do, then I commend you.
If a job is worth doing, then it's worth doing right. That is commendable.
But you still need to re-think your Arnold Murray following. Ooops. Wrong thread. Sorry.
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/25/2008 3:09:25 AM
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tomhillbilly
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well thats not all im saying but yes its clear that christians should be faithful to their employers.
Im convinced about good 'ol pastor murray, but ill take all the publicity i can get. *wink*
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/25/2008 9:39:46 AM
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Consecrated2God
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We're going to be bell ringing in a couple of weeks, and we don't get minimum wage! We'll be volunteering.
My sister is part of the Salvation Army and they minister to the homeless and the "dregs of society" as you call them. When we visited their church, there were quite a few people there that didn't look as neat and tidy as people in churches that don't minister to the homeless. I bet some of these people they minister to probably even volunteer to ring bells.
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/25/2008 9:58:57 AM
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P31W
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I stopped giving to the bell ringers when I began to recognize who they were. Many here have been in prison. (one "I" helped put there for being a theif) I simply don't trust giving them the cash money.
it's a shame but i don't.
When I contacted our local Salvation Army group about the man who stole from us she was extremely upset with me and said that "frank" had repented and was a good man. After her telling "me off" I let her know that "Frank" was one of Tony's many false names.
I don't believe she understood just how long Tony's arrest record was or how bad it was.
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/25/2008 11:03:14 AM
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Ps103
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INTERESTING SNOPES ARTICLE
I now some are paid, because I have known people who were hired to do it. It was a good thing--gave them a job for the holidays. I have also known people who volunteered to ring bells. So it is both around here, and most places, apparently.
I would hope the appearance of the person ringing the bell would not influence my decision about whether or not to give. If it did, I would read James and try to get over myself.
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RE: SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS! - 11/25/2008 11:09:14 AM
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Consecrated2God
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Great article, Kate!
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