Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / April 25, 1985, edition 1 / Page 5
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- Srune/aij £Pc/ioc/ , -• SEebbcn By Bessie Wllbon INTRODUCTION It's not fair! “We have worked hard in the sun all day and these people you hired the last hour are getting as much pay as we are,” (Matthews 20:1-16). Our ideas of what is fair or unfair generally involve comparisons. We may be reasonably content with our lot however difficult, until we see someone else, presumably less deserving than ourselves, being treated as well as or better than we are. The comparisons are sometimes serious, as in the case of the parent who is left to rear children when the partner chooses to leave and make a life tor himself-herself elsewhere. Complaints of unfairness are lodged against parents, teachers, judges, anyone in authority; even against God sometimes by persons who have deep faith. By comparison, the experience of the wicked does become meaningful to the righteous in their measure ment of justice. It became a major consideration to Job and his friends as will be seen in this week’s lesson. THE LESSON Job and his friends were actually teammates, wrest ling together with the ancient, unsolved problem, “How does human affliction relate to divine justice?” They were all men of faith and character, believing that God, who created all things, is in ultimate control of them. They also believed that God is good, and He is just. How, then, were they to explain what happened to Job? The same kind of questioning occurs frequently to thoughtful persons much less severely tried than Job was. “You thank God for sunshine,” they say, “but what about earthquakes and tornadoes? Don’t they come from the same source? You thank God for good health; but what about all the sickness and misery in the world?” DIALOGUE - Zaphar. Job 20:1-5 • “Job, you upset me. Now I’m impatient to answer. What you have said is an insult, but I know how to reply to you.” (Read the 19th chapter of Job to find out what Job said.) ‘‘Surely you know that from ancient times, when man was first placed on earth, no wicked man has been happy for long.” Zaphar’s argument belongs to all ages and all lands. It is always partly true and partly false. It did not respond directly to Job’s complaint, nor immediately to Job’s bold assertion that a fair hearing before God would establish his innocence. Instead his argument declared a dogmatic theory and seemed to tell Job, ‘‘If the shoe fits, wear it!” Zaphar was stirred, not by sympathy with Job’s plight, but by Job’s stubborn refusal to acknowledge the sinfulness that seemed evident. Zaphar had great confidence in the rightness of his own observations. Zaphar had not heard the pain and the plea in Job’s presentation. He had heard ohly a refusal to accept the rebuke he and the others had tried to administer, and his offended pride impelled him to speak. His attitude is frighteningly like that of those who seek to dominatehy talking, and do not really listen to the plea made by another. We tend to see only what we want to see - the rightness of our own opinion. Zaphar insisted that the dogma he was about to pronounce was a matter of common knowledge and, therefore, heeded no support by demonstration or reasoning. If Job did not agree, it must be due to his ignorance: ‘‘Certainly you know how it has always been ever since man has been on earth.” But how were Job and his friends to know what had happened during some 2000 years before their time? Zaphar was indulging in the practice of those who speak authoritatively without any real authority. Such a one may seek to mow down the opposition by claiming that ‘‘everyone knows” something that no one really knows, because it is simply not true. ‘‘Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?” (Job 21:7). There is the heart of Job’s challenge concerning divine justice. It is the point at which he cried ‘‘Unfair!” The prosperity of the wicked is not always brief and troubled, as Zaphar had asserted. It is sometimes long-lasting and carefree. And in that quality it contrasts sharply with . Job’s experience. He is definitely not one of them! Even in the heat of argument Job would not say that all the violent oppressors of their fellowmen reached old age in peace and security; but it happens often enough to provide a serious question as to justice in the present order. “Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of wicked is far from me,” (Job 21:14-15). How precisely Job set forth the attitude of the nonreligious! God is an irritating inconvenience to them. They resent the thought of One who is infinitely better, wiser, and more powerful than they. They suspect, rightly, that the knowledge of God might bring with it a responsibility to modify their will and their ways in conformity to Him, and they are unwilling to do that. They think that by remaining ignorant of His nature and His will •they can avoid being held accountable. ' Final judgment will reveal their folly, of course. It will make final and irreversible their choice, that of avoiding the presence of God, which is Heaven, and preferring the company of Satan, which is Hell. Job’s stubborn wrestling with the problem of evil brings to mind the experience of Jacob at Peniel. There, Jacob wrestled all night with a man whom he discovered to be God’s angel. Neither contestant prevailed, but Jacob insisted on a blessing before he would release the angel at dawn. The blessing was a new name, Israel, “prince of God,” but with it came a shrunken sinew and a lifelong limp. r rom 1 reter 3:13-23; 4:12-19, we view the fellowship with Christ that comes from suffering for righteousness’ sake, as He suffered. We observe that persons who have suffered affliction are better able to understand and help others in similar trials. All of this is helpful to us as we endure our troubles, but it removes us from Job, who maintained his integrity and his faith without any such assistance. K rtfs*.’ '/■>: ..v iV A '*■ 1 if * ■ j \. Adult Care Center Creates Dresses From By Jalyne Strong Poat Staff Writer If someone says to you, “Your dress is as pretty as a garbage bag.”--don’t become irate. It’s a compliment, referring to the stun ning dresses the participants of the Family Outreach Adult Care Center are creating from plastic trash bags. To be showcased during a fashion show on May 19, these garbage bag frocks are being designed and sewn by the senior citizen participants of the center and Ann Brooks, activity director. The Adult Care Center, located in Double Oaks School, 1326 Woodward Ave., is seeking 25 additional par ticipants to help make more fashions and to model in the show. If you are creative and are age 55 or older, male or female, you can be eligible to be involved in this fun event. “Any accessories: hats, bags, belts, or jewelry can be used with the fashion,’’ says Brooks. “Tro phies and prizes for most original and best looking outfits will be awarded.” Ihe fashion show will be held at the center and donations will be $3. Proceeds will go towards purchas ing supplies, financing field trips for the center’s participants, and awarding scholarships to support new participants at the Adult Care Center. This “Garbage Bag Fashion Ex travaganza” is just one of several Familj^Outreach Adult Care Center participants (l-r): Willette Stewart, Rosie Brewer, and Dicy McCaskill, -*---^-_MJ model a few of the creatively designed garbage bag dresses. ai_uvines ui me aauu care center, a program set up as an alternative to resting homes for the elderly Se nior citizens are welcomed at the center from 8 a m. until 5 D.m each weekday. "This program allows family members to keep their elder ly at home instead of institution aiizing mem, comments Brooks During the day the participants are involved in different activities tacn morning begins with a reality session,-' informs Brooks "We watch television news, read newspaper articles and discuss cur rent events." Arts and crafts are Organ And Body Tissue Donations Urgently Needed special To The Post Raleigh - There is an urgent need for human organ and body tissue donations in North Carolina, accord ing to Ben Shepard, manager of the Organ Donation Program in the N.C. Department of Human Resources’ Division of Health Services. Uo COirl iUni _!___ 1 • --uuiuuvvil III incur cal science have made it possible to restore critically ill people to good health by surgically transplant ing human organs and tissue; how ever, hundreds of North Carolinians die or remain blind because there are not enough organ donors. In an effort to make people more i " aware of the critical need for organ and tissue donations and to encour age them to become potential donors at the time of their death. Gover nor James G. Martin has pro claimed the week of April 21-27 as Organ Donor Awareness Week in North Carolina. me donation of a human organ or body tissue can literally be the gift of life or sight for a critically ill person in need of a transplant,” Martin said. "Organ and tissue do nations are needed regardless of a person’s age, race, or sex.” The State Center for Health Sta tistics stated that in 1984, 141 kid ney transplants and approximately 300 cornea transplants were per formed in North Carolina V olunteers Needed The Wild Animal Rehabilitation Service at the Nature Museum is in urgent need of volunteers to help care for the numbers of orphaned or injured baby birds, rabbits, opos sums and other wild baby animals i that are brought in bv the nuhii^ For more information, call Randy Cross at the Nature Museum, 372 61261 held in the afternoon. "We're now making craft items to be sold at Johnson C Smith's Arts & Crafts show next month," Brooks men tions. "To increase community aware ness and involvement we will also begin monthly activities and health screenings on the third Wednesday of each month from 2:30-3.30 p.m.,” continues Brooks "Participants will receive free blood sugar and blood pressure tests and glaucoma screen ings. They will also be able to play bingo for a 50 cent donation." A non-profit organization, the Adult Care Center is in need of more volunteer help and craft items such as yarn, fabric and needles. Busi nesses and organizations are urged to make tax deductible contributions to the center For any additional information about the fashion show or any other activities of the center, please con tact Ann Brooks at 332-7037 from 8 a m. until 5 p.m., weekdays ~STATEMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA MUTUAL L.IFK INSURANCE COMPANY REPORT TO THE POLICYHOLDERS North Carolina Mutual reversed the downward trend in our profitability of recent years and ended the year on a positive note We registered gains in our assets, insurance in force, net investment income, net gain and in our unassigned surplus, all of which are key indicators of the success of our operations. Our assets at year-end were $204.5 million, an increase of more than $718,000 over 1983, our insurance in force is $7.8 billion, compared to $7.4 billion at the end of 1983. Net investment income rose to $12 million, an increase of more than $205,000 over the 1983 figure. At the end of 1984, our net gain rose by over $4.7 million and our unassign ed surplus increased by more than $2 4 million, to stand at year end at $15 8 million These results in our operations were registered despite the continuing deterioration of the black American community Yet. North Carolina Mutual continues to move ahead in order to better serve our policyholders. We have introduced a series of new products to help our clients meet their financial needs for today and for the future Your support throughout the past year was encouraging to the officers and staff of our company. With your continued support we will be able to move North Carolina Mutual to better and brighter days ahead _ President I DECEMBER 31, 1 Prep.red from the Annual Statement I,led w.th the NORTH CAROLINA State Insurance Department ASSETS C***1.$ 5,987.052 Bonds II. S., Canadian and Othar Govarnmant . . . 832,108.160 Stata and Municipal. ... « 7,980.113 Railroad. 1,216.867 Public Utility, U. S. and Canada. 36,460,605 Industrial and Miscellaneous. 27.073.670 104.848,415 Stocks Preferred. $ 1.632.265 . IL3MJ42 13.536 607 Mortao«o Loans. 33.489.580 Root Estate Properties for Co. Use . . S 8.011,171 Olker Properties.. 1.114.464 7.130.632 Policy Loans. 4.748,784 Investment Income Owe and Accrued . . . 3,181,750 Premiums in Course of Collection. 24,906,766 Cask Vahse-Poticies on Officers. 625 731 . MCUtt jrOTAL ASSETS ... . . „ . . , ^ ; LIABILITIES Statutory Policy Reserves.$134,712,352 Policy Claim Liabilities. 27,676,960 Dividends to Policyowners. 4,854,345 Other Policy Liabilities. 1,951 Interest, Rents, and Premiums Paid in Advance. 680,557 Taxes end Accrued Expense. 1,835,782 Employee Benefit Reserves. 524.333 Mandatory Security Valuation Reserve. . . 1,490,273 Group Contingency Reserve. 14.629.061 Other Liabilities. 2,293 865 TOTAL LIABILITIES.$188,699,479 CONTINGENCY RESERVE AND SURPLUS UnattifMd Surplus. 1S.I39.I1S TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS. .CBTHI fH W. J. Kennedy III President BOARD OF DIRECTORS W J KENNEDY III Chairman Prasidant Chtaf Exacutiva Officar Durham. North Carolina W O BRYSON JR Baltimora. Maryland W A CLEMENT. CLU Durham. North Carolina BERT COLLINS Sanior VP Administration Durham. North Carolina NATHAN T GARRETT Durham. North Carolina CICERO M GREEN JR Sanior Vica Prasidant Financa Durham, North Carolina MRS LOUISE K LAWSON Chicago. Illinois WADE W PERRY Sanior Vica Prasidant Ganaral Counsai Corporata Sacratary Durham. North Carolina MACEO A SLOAN. CLU Vica Chairman Durham North Carolina C D WATTS M D Sanior Vica Prasidant Madtcai Diractor Durham. North Carolina E LME R YOUNG JR Phiiadaiphia. Pannsyivama HONORARY N H BENNETT JR Durham North Carolina J W GOODLOE Durham, North Carolina W J KENNEDY JR Durham. No'th Carolina ALFRED M PELHAM Datroit Mich pan ASA T SPAULDING Durham, North Carolina C C SPAULDING Durham North Carolina MRS V G TURNER Durham North Carolina A W WILLIAMS Chicago Illinois
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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April 25, 1985, edition 1
5
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