The Great Depression # 6

(1) TAXES CAN BE DEPRESSING

We continuously hear of the problems of our school systems. When you ask the school board what it is going to take to solve this problem, they say, “MORE MONEY!”

• Will Rogers said that Alexander Hamilton originated the “put and take system” in our national treasury: the taxpayers put it in, and the politicians take it out.

• When it comes to taxes, one man said, “Everybody should pay his income tax with a smile. I tried it, but they wanted cash.”

• Another man said, “I went to Washington and visited the Tax Department. I just wanted to see the people I'm working for.”

• Another man said, “With my latest raise, I can now afford to pay last year's taxes.”

• Another man said, “When a Congressman says he's for a tax cut - it simply means he wants his cut of your taxes.”

Illus: Will Rogers said, “The income tax has made liars out of more American people than golf has.”

Illus: An honest letter was sent to the Internal Revenue Service. It stated: "Dear Sirs: I cannot sleep. Last year, when I filed my income tax return, I deliberately misrepresented my income. Enclosed is a check for $150 for taxes. If I still cannot sleep, I will send you the rest later!" (James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) pp. 285-286.)

We all detest paying taxes because we try to live within our income so we can afford to pay taxes to a government that can't live within its income.

Illus: Golf is much like taxes - you drive hard to get to the green and then wind up in the hole.

Listen! It is enough to make anyone depressed when you think of how Uncle Sam takes almost 50% of our income each year.

(2) THE NEWS MEDIA CAN BE DEPRESSING

Illus: Before the war with Iraq, they reported that, “Rumor has it that the American military has ordered some 9,000 body bags for the Iraqi conflict.” Listen, isn’t the news media supposed to report the FACTS, not rumors?

Rumors have caused many problems in this country.

Illus: Did you know that Abraham Lincoln's coffin was pried open twice?

• The first occasion was in 1887, twenty-two long years after his assassination, because of a rumor that his coffin was empty. A select group of witnesses observed that the rumor was totally false, then watched as the casket was resealed with lead.

• The second time was fourteen years later, when again there was a rumor that his coffin was empty. In spite of the strong protests of Lincoln's son Robert, the body was exposed a second time. Officials felt the rumors should be laid to rest along with the Civil War president.

• Finally, the corpse was permanently embedded in a crypt at Springfield.

Rumors have caused all kinds of problems. They have destroyed governments, wrecks marriages, ruined careers, destroyed reputations, caused nightmares, spawned suspicion, and generated grief.

Rumor is no more than gossip. Before you repeat a story, ask yourself:

• Is it true?

• Is it fair?

• Is it necessary?

…If not, forget it.

The News media in this country spreads rumors each day. If you try to find the truth, they say, “I have to protect my sources!” Listen, sources do not need to be protected, THE TRUTH NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED!

Every day, some of the worst news they can dig up is dropped into our laps, such as:

• Everybody hates America

• The economy is going down the drain

• The stock market is crashing

• Unemployment is rising

• Gas prices are shooting through the ceiling

• There are corporate layoffs

• New taxes are being imposed on us

• There are CEO scandals

Every day we hear all this bad news, no wonder that many are DEPRESSED.

(3) PERSONAL NEWS CAN BE DEPRESSING.

Many of you are struggling right now with personal news, because the doctor has told you that you have a HEALTH PROBLEM.

Illus: I overheard two older men talking about their health problems at our church.

• One said, "My new doctor doesn't just treat the symptoms, he treats both the mind and the body."

• "Hmm," the second man grunted and thought for a moment; then he asked, "Does he give a discount if the mind is already gone?" (Clarice Lukenbill, Spencer, Ind. Christian Reader, "Lite Fare.")

Perhaps you’ve gone out of your way to improve your health but you have a body that is not cooperating. A body that doesn’t cooperate is certainly depressing.

(4) FINANCIAL PROBLEMS CAN BE DEPRESSING

Illus: A guy named John put this message on his answering machine. “Hi. This is John:

• If you are the phone company, I already sent the money.