Labor Day in the USA

It is Labor Day here in the U.S. and many of us are enjoying time with family, cooking out, and having that last hoorah before the Fall and cooler weather.  While the topic of Labor Unions is one which stirs up debate and disagreement, there can be no argument that Labor once had a significant function in making employment in this country more humane and more profitable.  But as history has shown again and again, there has been a paradigm shift and Big Labor has been slow to realize the change.  The American public will no longer tolerate large salaries and benefits for government labor employees when they themselves make so much less than the union worker.

There is a much more serious problem which our government policies seem to enhance -- unemployment. The politicians argue over the what the actual percentage is while millions are out of work, can't pay their mortgage, utilities, and in many cases, put food on the table at home.  Federal government regulations and tax laws are stuffing it to those who can actually create jobs for people - small businesses across the land.  The deadlock in Congress between those who want to cut spending and release business to act, and those who want to empower the Federal Government to spend more money on construction and infrastructure projects, is not going away anytime soon.

You and I need to follow the principles from 1 Timothy 2 and pray for our leaders asking God to give them a solution to our economic woes -- of which, employment is just one piece.

Collect for Labor Day
Almighty God, who hast so linked our lives with one another that all we do affecteth, for good or for ill, all other lives:  So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and as we seek a proper return for own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.