Friday; September 4
For some of you, this may
not mean much; but there are a lot of us who remember the Jerry Lewis Labor Day
Telethons. In fact, I think what I
learned about raising money using emotional pleas and telephones came from
those weekends. Now, let me offer a bit
of explaining. During the 1960s and
1970s Jerry Lewis, a famous comedian from back in the day, hosted a telethon to
raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America. To do this, he would bring on guests for a
marathon television event. As a kid
fascinated with entertainers – and looking for one last hurrah before the
beginning of the school year – I spent a lot of late nights anxiously awaiting
the next singer or comic. Knowing I
could sleep in late on Labor Day seemed to make it all worthwhile.
Interestingly, as I look
back on these telethons, I remember the good times, but what really made them
stand out was the good work. Millions of
dollars were raised to help the people who needed it. Even though these events have run their
course, the great news is that giving never goes out of style – people can
always help people! The Bible reminds us
of the simplicity of Christianity (and humanity) by noting, “Pure and undefiled
religion in the sight of our God and Father is this:
to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep
oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27). Sure, being good is important to Christians,
but doing good is a part of the process as well.
Do you know someone who
needs some help? If so, why not take up
a few dollars or gather up a few workers and do what needs to be done?
Think About It!