God-fearing man pisses away his money

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-04-07 01:31am

As in the subject line:

CNN wrote:Ten Commandments Project runs out of money

'We are victims of success'

Sunday, April 6, 2003 Posted: 4:55 PM EDT (2055 GMT)

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) -- A ministry that set out to "renew America one child at a time" by paying young people $10 each to memorize and recite the Ten Commandments has run out of money.

"We are victims of success," said 76-year-old George Kelley, a retired flower shop owner who has put his Ten Commandments Project on hold "until the Lord provides additional money."

About 15,000 "memorization affidavits" from children in all 50 states flooded the Kelleys' mailbox after The Associated Press reported on the project in December.

Nathaniel Nimtz, a fourth-grader at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church and School in Birmingham, Michigan, took advantage of the offer after his father read about it.

"He probably had his check within about a week," said Mark Nimtz, who is now teaching his second-grade daughter, Elizabeth, the commandments. "I think it's awesome."

Elizabeth may be too late to get her $10.

The ministry plans to honor children's letters received through April 5. Kelley said the ministry had distributed about $75,000 to children from 1997 to December. Since the AP report, it has written about 12,500 more checks, and Kelley said he was finishing a few thousand more.

The ministry was born out of disgust after a part-time cook murdered seven workers at three Tennessee restaurants in 1997. Kelley and his wife, Marion, both Presbyterians, saw the crimes as a sign that young people did not understand right from wrong.

They started the project with help from friends, feeling that children who memorized the Ten Commandments perhaps would think about them when tempted to lie, steal or engage in other wrongdoing.

To qualify for the $10, children had to be 16 or younger, live in the United States and recite the commandments to a nonparental adult witness, such as a pastor, rabbi, priest or teacher, who would sign an affidavit pledging that they heard the child's recitation.

Along with the affidavits, donations have come in, but the cash hasn't kept up with demand.

Kelley said he and his wife dipped into a personal retirement account but don't have much more to give. They have asked private foundations and wealthy individuals to help keep the program alive.

"Really, it would be a shame if this thing stopped," Kelley said. "But that's not in our hands."

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-04-07 01:35am

saw the crimes as a sign that young people did not understand right from wrong.

Of course there plan doesn't have any actual provisions for changing that, or the fact that many people who commit crimes are quite aware of what there doing but simply don't care.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-04-07 01:41am

I think that most kids would be doing it for the money, and not actually learn anything.

Brother-Captain Gaius · Post by **Brother-Captain Gaius** » 2003-04-07 01:59am

[Nelson]
Haha!
[/Nelson]

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-04-07 02:05am

Sure, that's real effective.

Almost anyone in America could name them, methinks.

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2003-04-07 02:11am

"We are victims of success," said 76-year-old George Kelley, a retired flower shop owner who has put his Ten Commandments Project on hold "until the Lord provides additional money."

Do you suppose he'd have to pay income tax on divine endowments? Like the lottery? Or is that deductable? Does God get a tax deduction for donating to charity?

Captain tycho · Post by **Captain tycho** » 2003-04-07 03:10am

All I can do is roll my eyes...

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2003-04-07 04:59am

me, Id memorize the commandments, then keep asking him for money under different names.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-04-07 07:05am

That's patheticly stupid. What were they thinking?

Boba Fett · Post by **Boba Fett** » 2003-04-07 07:33am

*runs out to the street and screams*

Post by **NecronLord** » 2003-04-07 08:01am

Wong. Send off for your money. You have after all got a page on them........

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-04-07 09:20am

DPDarkPrimus wrote: Almost anyone in America could name them, methinks.

Perhaps, but Jesus surely couldn't: He could only name 5, and "Love thy neighbor" isn't one of them, its in Leviticus 19:18.

Matt. 19:16-18

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2003-04-07 10:20am

Christians are funny people, laugh at them at every opportunity.

PeZook · Post by **PeZook** » 2003-04-07 10:35am

They would help more children by donating those 75 grand to a local school, or the Red Cross.

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2003-04-07 10:54am

PeZook wrote:They would help more children by donating those 75 grand to a local school, or the Red Cross.

No, no, no. Men of God don't want to HELP people. They want to SAVE them. The caveat to that being that you have to die before it is relevant.

I am sure that somewhere out there is a self-proclaimed holy man who would like nothing more than to baptize people the old fashioned way, via submerging under water, and to do it just a TEEEEEENSY bit longer than absolutely necessary, to get people saved and right to the express route to heaven all in five minutes.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2003-04-07 11:25am

Hey I know all 10 commandments! Where are my fucking 10 bucks!!!

PeZook · Post by **PeZook** » 2003-04-07 12:14pm

Slartibartfast wrote:Hey I know all 10 commandments! Where are my fucking 10 bucks!!!

You did this for a measly ten bucks? What a dirty whore you are, Slartib

Darth Gojira · Post by **Darth Gojira** » 2003-04-07 12:29pm

Zoink wrote:
DPDarkPrimus wrote: Almost anyone in America could name them, methinks.
Perhaps, but Jesus surely couldn't: He could only name 5, and "Love thy neighbor" isn't one of them, its in Leviticus 19:18.

Matt. 19:16-18

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

Hmm... It seems that Jeshua's "I did not come to change the Old Testament" was just a ploy. He seemed to be nice guy after all.....

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-04-07 01:05pm

I'd memorize both sets, and collect $20.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-04-07 01:13pm

I personally don't see what the big deal is. They did not solicit government funds. This was a grass roots campaign funded by private donations that gives children a little incentive to learn one of the basic foundations of judaeo christian philosophy for 10 bucks. I can't see any harm in this other that I believe the couple is a tad misguided if they think that just by learning the ten commandments it would deter anyone from comitting crime.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-04-07 01:40pm

What made him think he could afford it?

And besides, what will knowing the Ten Commandments do to keep kids away form bad stuff? It obviously hasn't worked for the priests.

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2003-04-07 01:44pm

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi wrote:And besides, what will knowing the Ten Commandments do to keep kids away form bad stuff? It obviously hasn't worked for the priests.

Only two things can force a person with no morals to NOT do bad things: Fear and Guilt. Christian leaders and community members are masters of both arts, respectively.

Ted C · Post by **Ted C** » 2003-04-07 01:54pm

Lagmonster wrote: Only two things can force a person with no morals to NOT do bad things: Fear and Guilt.

Can a person with no morals feel guilt? I think not. The only thing that stops an amoral person from committing a crime is fear of getting caught.

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2003-04-07 06:13pm

Why couldn't I have met these people before they ran out of money?

Trytostaydead · Post by **Trytostaydead** » 2003-04-07 06:32pm

Stravo wrote:I personally don't see what the big deal is. They did not solicit government funds. This was a grass roots campaign funded by private donations that gives children a little incentive to learn one of the basic foundations of judaeo christian philosophy for 10 bucks. I can't see any harm in this other that I believe the couple is a tad misguided if they think that just by learning the ten commandments it would deter anyone from comitting crime.

Probably not, but if it can help one or two kids.. then I think it was worth it. Maybe they won't believe in God, but who knows if they'll at least be influenced by the other commandments.