Let’s hope Dr Carson works compassionately and actively to help the poor and needy. To strengthen the safety net for those that need it.
Wishing.
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That’s the way I, and others I know, see it. Attention can become an addiction.
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this is a really exciting development, even if it involves a trump administration…ben carson now will have a huge bully pulpit from which to speak and act…if he surrounds himself with knowledgeable experts - and why wouldn’t he - he can make a real contribution to millions of lives…what an opportunity for an adventist…
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Has anyone noticed how Seventh day Adventists rush and gush to make celebrities and idols of persons in the Church?
Dr. Ben has now become bigger than life.
The 3 Ex-gays and 2 Ex-lesbians have been shown around the world in tours.
We had our famous Movie/TV stars for a while, actually, more than one.
One was a Pastor turned TV star.
Our music stars. Although we don’t talk about Little Richard anymore. I recall seeing him on
an afternoon talk show [in black and white TV screen days] where he was OK saying he was
an SDA. Actually, in church was where he learned piano. He has a Star with his name on it
at the Douglass Theatre entrance here in Macon. And a street named after him.
We now have even elevated Desmond Doss since his movie has come out. Were it not for
that he would a person lost in history to the last and this generation growing up.
Let us Hope Dr Ben survives being a celebrity in the SDA church in his political position.
Let us be careful NOT to use him like we have Des Doss.
HUD LIVING–
I live in a high rise apartment complex that provides HUD subsidies to residents. Talking to a
number of residents here, many of them are in the $600 to $700 a month income. HUD requires
30% of income from the client. that is $180 to $210 per month. Housing elsewhere in Macon is
$500 at a “boarding house”, $800 to 1200 for an apartment plus then there are utilities to pay.
I do see that HUD housing is not always the best. By that I mean it “Segregates” people into
low income families, maybe even people of a certain color into Ghettos and away from certain
areas of town. All the children attend the same schools, so do not interact with children from
families of higher income brackets. So these can be the Negative Effects of HUD Housing.
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Ben owes it to African Americans generally , and the Adventist Church in particular , to study and listen to smart and knowledgeable advisers , in order to make a rousing success of this job.As long as he is not drinking cocktails and similar rubbish activities , he can do his job on the Sabbath helping the underprivileged, giving hope tom poor families, and so on." The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath" I believe the saying is. This is especially applicable in a scenario when the national good is at stake, in my opinion.Others may see it differently but I say Go to it BEN. I wish you every success.
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I don’t think he’ll be worried about Sabbath, he was already in the habit of campaigning on Sabbath.
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It seems Carson is headed for a cabinet position. That’s a whale of an undertaking; Jonah does come to mind. It seems he continues to choose diversion over the higher calling.
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It is encouraging to see that the broad brush, generalization, fanatic, cliché perspective on “Judge not that ye be not judged” has almost made it to the “OUT LIST” Ben Carson’s personality & character has been speculated on, 2nd guessed, found guilty before a trial.
And Steve Mga…what do you expect from a country which has a culture of celebrity, debt, materialism, and infidelity?
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What a coincidence! Nearly simultaneously two Adventists came in focus of national and world publicity:
The first one has selflessly served for his country never thinking of the cost it could take. The other one very ambitiously attempting to do so for gaining attention and fame.
The first one did it by obeying his principles which could hinder his service, the other one by abandoning one after another of those same principles.
What a strange company of people we are! It seems that we have passed that critical mass after which there is (according to statistical laws) every sort of human virtue and failure.
It’s us. Nothing special, nothing peculiar, nothing like remnant. Lord, have mercy on us!
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It is saddening to read the press reports eviscerating Dr. Carson for what they call “islamaphobic” statements during the campaign (which they probably were), ridiculing him for his statements on the pyramids and how prisoners easily change their sexual behavior when in or out of prison (ergo, one’s sexuality is a “choice”), and so on. Even well-educated Adventists should counsel with others besides themselves when ascending the public visibility ladder.
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Not to be took picky here, but I believe it is perhaps inaccurate to state (in the headline and the first paragraph) that Dr. Carson was “named” and “appointed.” I believe the correct verb is “nominated.” I see you have clarified at the end of the article that his appointment is subject to Senate confirmation but until that occurs he is a “nominee” and has not been appointed. Then again, I could be wrong!..
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Thank you for wishing the best for Dr. Carson. It is so easy to pray for and encourage political figures toward well doing that I’m surprised there are not more people who are determined to do that.
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Dr. Benson Carson appointment to HUD a cabinet-level position in the United States government is responsible to President Donald Trump Administration.
Dr. Ben Carson is not responsible to President Ted Wilson Administration of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist church in U.S.A.
Hence, it’s not Dr Ben Carson calling nor appropriate evangelizing Adventism.
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Sorry, but Ben seems to have forgotten his humble beginnings and is opposed to welfare in today’s world.
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I still think a better job for him would be surgeon general rather the head of HUD. He doesn’t have any qualification for this position he has been nominated to.
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HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business.
So a doctor who professed to have no government experience, never run a federal agency and who publicly stated, “The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency” is now in charge of a Federal agency with over 8,500 employees and oversees a $48.5 Billion dollar budget, of which only 7.3 Billion is mandatory spending. This position is responsible for Public and Indian Housing; Community Planning and Development and other Housing Programs.
In the past Carson criticized a Section 8 housing program. In case you don’t understand it, Section 8 is the difference for many families and veterans being housed or being homeless. None-the-less Carson said this:
“This is what you see in communist countries, where they have so many regulations encircling every aspect of your life that if you don’t agree with them, all they have to do is pull the noose.” — Interview with Jan Mickelson, an Iowa radio talk show host, on June 10, 2015.
In other places he compared Federal Housing program regulations with “social engineering” and stated the utterly naive
“poverty is really more of a choice than anything else,”
Now I know that there are Spectrum readers who may actually be poor and receive assistance from HUD. I am sure it feels like compassionate christianity to be told you are choosing to be poor… and must be great to know that your rent subsidy is in the hands of someone with the world view that poverty is your own fault.
Then again, look at the bright side. maybe he might trade housing vouchers for tuition assistance to Trump University.
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I don’t think Ben Carson ever lived in the projects when he was growing up. What does he know about subsidized housing?
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Dr. Ben Carson is selling his palatial Palm Beach home for $1.2 million after being picked to join Trump’s cabinet. Looking at picture of his home I wonder how he can represent and speak in behalf of the poor at HUD.
TonyR
I guess to fail to see your reasoning.
I guess I am reminded when Mahannda Gundi visited England for 2 month and refused to stay in the Kingsly Hall. He preferred to live among the poor and visit in their homes. He came with his goat and goat’s milk, spinning wheel along with his pots and pans. He wore his loin cloth showing his bare legs. His kindness, humility and humor broke down the race prejudices. We would not know who he was today if he lived in a 1.2 million dollar home. Would we?
I fear the Trump Hotel model of success had twisted our view of the early example of Jesus. I think as a church we idolize wealth and high social standing. We have no Gundi’s among us. “Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
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Well he did come from humble begins Frank. Doesn’t that at least count for something?
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15)
According to that kind of reasoning, Jesus cant sympathise with our weaknesses any longer.
And BTW, my saying this is not an endorsement of Dr. Carson’s position as HUD secretary, or living in a 1.2 million dollar home. Neither is it a rejection. It’s purely on a persons ability to connect with those they no longer live along side.
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