I have never seen an administration defy the will of the people by pursuing an agenda (health care) that has already been repudiated by recent local elections. Nor, have I ever seen a congress that would stop at nothing (through bribes, kickbacks & deceit) to pass this legislation. Republican Sen Scott Brown, who was elected by democratic Massachusetts in place of Sen Ted Kennedy, brings us up to speed.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Letter to Pro-Obama Health Care Supporter
I responded to a friend about health care reform, and thought it was good enough for you to read as well.
Hi ______,
I really appreciate your heart and I know where you're coming from.
So, let's start off with where we agree: 1) we agree there's a problem with affordable health care; 2) we support health care reform.
Our only real difference is how we as a nation go about reforming health care.
The bills that have been proposed by the House and Senate carry with them a major cost to the nation, through raising taxes, reducing services, growing our national debt, lowering our medical standards & clamping upon us an intrusive control over our medical decisions, that literally pushes us toward socialism. Plus, did you know, the bills do not provide coverage for all anyway. After all is said and done, after the trillions of dollars invested into this, millions of people will still be left without coverage.
But, here's something else we agree with: health care costs are astronomical! But why? It's mainly because of malpractice insurance that doctors have to pay to protect themselves from frivolous and expensive lawsuits.
Knowing this, why don't we pass one simple bill -- without adding cost to the nation!
TORT REFORM.
Tort reform is putting caps, or limits, on the amount of money doctors can be sued by patients. THIS IS WHY costs are so high -- when every little misdiagnosis turns into a major lawsuit which sends premiums through the roof. Doctors, needing to protect themselves, pay expensive malpractice insurance, the cost of which are then passed onto the patients.
The Obama Administration targets insurance providers as greedy villains. But did you know that trial lawyers are Obama's biggest financial supporters? This is why the Obama Administration rejects Tort Reform -- it would seriously impact the amount of money made by trial lawyers and thereby curtail Obama's and the democrats' campaign funding.
So, if Obama was serious about curtailing health care costs, he should start by passing a bill limiting awards for malpractice suits -- and that would cost the nation NOTHING!
Doesn't that make sense to do?
Obama rejects tort reform and, instead, creates a government bureaucracy that controls everyone's life from womb to tomb. The serious consequences of this bill include funding for abortions and denial of certain medical care to senior citizens because of their age -- despite what the White House website says!
Surely, your concern for people includes the unborn and senior citizens.
Now, let's talk about the catastrophic cost for Obama's health care reform. The nation is already squandering millions of dollars each day to foreign nations to PAY THE INTEREST on the trillions of dollars of debt we owe them. That's every day!
The US cannot sustain such crippling debt to our economy - this will certainly destroy this nation. Plus, it is already forcing the US to change our foreign policy to suit the decisions of nations we're indebted to -- as recently happened when China asked the US not to host the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama was escorted out of the back door of the White House pronto. Suppose one day the Chinese take us to task for protecting ourselves against terrorism? Proverbs says, "...the borrower is servant to the lender" (22:7).
Furthermore, you might think we're getting a free ride with government insurance, but how will it be funded? The children, and their children, born during this reform will be saddled with the debilitating debt, which will be unsustainable. This would be the first time in our nation's history that we would leave our children a country in worse shape, ladened with debt, than we had received and enjoyed.
We would be literally mortgaging away the lives of our children and grandchildren by presenting them with the price tag that puts their lives and hopes into Chapter 11.
As it stands now, the US has the best medical care in the world. People of all nations -- socialized countries included -- come here when they need good health care. That's because our government has no active control over personal and private medical procedures, while every socialized country has government running mom and pop's medical affairs. We cannot emulate the socialist system.
There are other ways for us to reform health care: Obama's plans will put the nation in cardiac arrest -- which, unfortunately, his health care reform does not cover.
We must vote against these bills.
Love you Guys....blessings to you.
Lou
Hi ______,
I really appreciate your heart and I know where you're coming from.
So, let's start off with where we agree: 1) we agree there's a problem with affordable health care; 2) we support health care reform.
Our only real difference is how we as a nation go about reforming health care.
The bills that have been proposed by the House and Senate carry with them a major cost to the nation, through raising taxes, reducing services, growing our national debt, lowering our medical standards & clamping upon us an intrusive control over our medical decisions, that literally pushes us toward socialism. Plus, did you know, the bills do not provide coverage for all anyway. After all is said and done, after the trillions of dollars invested into this, millions of people will still be left without coverage.
But, here's something else we agree with: health care costs are astronomical! But why? It's mainly because of malpractice insurance that doctors have to pay to protect themselves from frivolous and expensive lawsuits.
Knowing this, why don't we pass one simple bill -- without adding cost to the nation!
TORT REFORM.
Tort reform is putting caps, or limits, on the amount of money doctors can be sued by patients. THIS IS WHY costs are so high -- when every little misdiagnosis turns into a major lawsuit which sends premiums through the roof. Doctors, needing to protect themselves, pay expensive malpractice insurance, the cost of which are then passed onto the patients.
The Obama Administration targets insurance providers as greedy villains. But did you know that trial lawyers are Obama's biggest financial supporters? This is why the Obama Administration rejects Tort Reform -- it would seriously impact the amount of money made by trial lawyers and thereby curtail Obama's and the democrats' campaign funding.
So, if Obama was serious about curtailing health care costs, he should start by passing a bill limiting awards for malpractice suits -- and that would cost the nation NOTHING!
Doesn't that make sense to do?
Obama rejects tort reform and, instead, creates a government bureaucracy that controls everyone's life from womb to tomb. The serious consequences of this bill include funding for abortions and denial of certain medical care to senior citizens because of their age -- despite what the White House website says!
Surely, your concern for people includes the unborn and senior citizens.
Now, let's talk about the catastrophic cost for Obama's health care reform. The nation is already squandering millions of dollars each day to foreign nations to PAY THE INTEREST on the trillions of dollars of debt we owe them. That's every day!
The US cannot sustain such crippling debt to our economy - this will certainly destroy this nation. Plus, it is already forcing the US to change our foreign policy to suit the decisions of nations we're indebted to -- as recently happened when China asked the US not to host the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama was escorted out of the back door of the White House pronto. Suppose one day the Chinese take us to task for protecting ourselves against terrorism? Proverbs says, "...the borrower is servant to the lender" (22:7).
Furthermore, you might think we're getting a free ride with government insurance, but how will it be funded? The children, and their children, born during this reform will be saddled with the debilitating debt, which will be unsustainable. This would be the first time in our nation's history that we would leave our children a country in worse shape, ladened with debt, than we had received and enjoyed.
We would be literally mortgaging away the lives of our children and grandchildren by presenting them with the price tag that puts their lives and hopes into Chapter 11.
As it stands now, the US has the best medical care in the world. People of all nations -- socialized countries included -- come here when they need good health care. That's because our government has no active control over personal and private medical procedures, while every socialized country has government running mom and pop's medical affairs. We cannot emulate the socialist system.
There are other ways for us to reform health care: Obama's plans will put the nation in cardiac arrest -- which, unfortunately, his health care reform does not cover.
We must vote against these bills.
Love you Guys....blessings to you.
Lou
Saturday, February 20, 2010
I Love Betty Hutton!
Betty Hutton, that blond fireball that fueled wartime America in joy and song, is the most underrated, and almost forgotten, singing superstar from Hollywood's bygone era.Entertainer of movies from the 40s and 50s, she was the biggest female star on the Paramount lot. Her exuberant singing style and comic interpretation of songs has not yet been duplicated. She costarred with all the big names: Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and gave them all a run for their money in the laugh department. Her most memorable role may have been in Irving Berlin's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1950).
ANNIE was her most sought-after role, but, as it turned out, it was the heartbreak of her life. Judy Garland was originally cast as Annie, but was removed from the role due to her addictions. The cast and crew, inexplicably, never "forgave" Betty for replacing Judy and made her stay intolerable.
She continued performing into the television era, with less and less enthusiasm and ambition.
Betty's later years were spent fighting addictions herself. Four failed marriages, loss of her millions, dispirited of life, Betty suffered a nervous breakdown in 1973. Restored to emotional well-being by Catholic Father Peter Maguire, Betty became a Catholic and gave her life wholeheartedly to the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing mattered anymore - she felt love and acceptance then, more than she ever received in Hollywood's heyday. She died in 2007, after enjoying renewed acclaim of her work.
In choosing her best song, I'm stymied! She's so talented in all the clips I've seen, how can you pick the best? Well, let's begin somewhere anyway.
Here's my initial all-time favorite that got me hooked on Hutton. Listen to the way she performs Cole Porter's lip-acrobatic-lyrics, "Let's Not Talk About Love" from LET'S FACE IT (1943).
Here's my other all-time favorite: "That's Loyalty" from RED, HOT AND BLUE (1949). Look at the way she uses every part of her body to tell the story, moving from graceful femininity to comic exuberance in a wink.
Finally, my third all-time favorite: "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" from THE STORK CLUB (1945). She is so enjoyable to watch, I could view these videos over and over again.
BONUS TRACK: Ay, what the hey. Here's another favorite: "His Rocking Horse Ran Away" from AND THE ANGELS SING (1944).
It's great to know that "this vitamin pill with legs," as Bob Hope called her, is in the Lord's presence now. (For more on Betty Hutton, go to her satinsandspurs website).
Glenn Beck at CPAC
Glenn Beck, host at Fox News, gave a stirring keynote speech at the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC). Here are two selections: the first one gives an overview of early America and how the prevailing political "wisdom" of liberalism exacerbated the Great Depression.
The next selection presents a gripping understanding of America's promise, as depicted in the Statue of Liberty.
As a source of reference, Beck cites the Colossus of Rhodes as the original inspiration of the Statue of Liberty.
The next selection presents a gripping understanding of America's promise, as depicted in the Statue of Liberty.
As a source of reference, Beck cites the Colossus of Rhodes as the original inspiration of the Statue of Liberty.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Is Jesus Talking about Offerings?
UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE
Give and it shall be given onto you…
Is Jesus Talking About
OFFERINGS?
Most Christians today are familiar with the following scripture: “Give and it shall be given onto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom” Luke 6:38.
The common teaching for this scripture is usually reserved for church offerings. It will surprise many, however, that Jesus is not talking about church offerings at all.
The following should in no way be used as an excuse not to contribute to churches or ministries – there are other scriptures that can be used legitimately for that reason. But we want to be accurate in understanding scripture and in what is being taught.
We need to have a bit more of the Berean spirit. The Bereans were Jews that were eager to hear what the Apostle Paul had to say about the Lord, but they “examined the scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11) whether what he preached was so or not.
When one is looking to buy a house, the common refrain is “location, location, location.” It’s not just the house, but what are its surroundings? Where is it located? That’s the same with understanding scripture – where is the scripture located and what is surrounding it. It’s all about location, or more accurately context.
Context, context, context: The context of the scripture is everything. Now, with this in mind, let’s understand the context of Jesus’ statement.
Let’s begin in Luke 6:12:
And it happened in those days that He (Jesus) went out into a mountain to pray, and He was spending the night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples. And He chose twelve of them, whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alpheus, and Simon who was called Zelotes; Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also became the betrayer.
(Luk 6:12-16 MKJV)
At this point, we find that Jesus, after praying all night for guidance, has selected his disciples, who will become the pillars of His church. The word church means “called out ones.” They are being called out of the world and placed into His kingdom, with all the privileges that sonship affords – including the ability to walk like Jesus walked, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Seeing that this is a new concept – unprecedented since Adam’s fall – Jesus began teaching what this new life of being a Christian was going to be like.
Jesus was real with them! There were wonderful blessings associated with being a Christian, but there were also difficulties:
And lifting up His eyes to His disciples, He said, Blessed are the poor, for yours is the
(Luk 6:20-26 MKJV)
Here Jesus is already showing his disciples that if they follow Christ, the world will hate them and seek to hurt them. But Jesus then goes on to explain how we should react to those who would seek us harm:
But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you. And to him who strikes you on the one cheek, also offer the other. And to him who takes away your garment, do not forbid your tunic also. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from him who takes away your goods, do not ask them again. And as you desire that men should do to you, you do also to them likewise. For if you love those who love you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also do the same. And if you lend to those of whom you hope to receive, what thanks do you have? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. And your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.
(Luk 6:27-35 MKJV)
Here Jesus ups the ante in our character – stressing the need to go above and beyond what normal people do. Normal people love those that love them and hate those who hate them. But Jesus tells us no, don’t follow that pattern!
Instead, love those who don’t love you. Give to those that are persecuting you. The bottom line is that Jesus died for these very same persecutors and that God is still seeking to bring them into His fold. Therefore, Jesus is saying, present yourselves to them as Jesus would: “for He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.”
The carnal mind would scorn those and refuse to forgive those that have hurt us; which is why Jesus continues:
Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.
(Luk 6:36-37 MKJV)
Jesus is stressing the way we as Christians need to look upon those who have not yet given themselves over to Christ: merciful, nonjudgmental, non-condemning, & forgiving.
With this context in mind, we now come to the pivotal scripture:
Give, and it shall be given to you, good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over, they shall give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you measure, it shall be measured to you again.
(Luk 6:38 MKJV)
This whole time, Jesus is talking about the way Christians are supposed to conduct themselves with the world – without intolerance, without condemnation, but with love and forgiveness.
Jesus is continuing that refrain with verse 38: the way you treat people will be the way people ultimately will treat you. Some of these people who have been persecuting Christians will have a hard time responding in anger to those who continue to show them love at all costs. Paul says, Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. (Rom 12:20 MKJV)
Also notice there is no mention of church services in verse 38; no mention of money at all. The return here is “in your bosom” – not your wallet! Bosom denotes relationship, in the same way that Lazarus was carried off into Abraham’s bosom; or the way John leaned on Jesus’ bosom.
You can continue reading through the context after verse 38 and you will find that Jesus is again contrasting the saved with the unsaved (or pre-saved, as I like to term it), and how the saved need to react to the unsaved.
Verse 39-40: And He spoke a parable to them: Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master, but everyone who is perfect shall be like his master. (Luk 6:39-40 MKJV)
Jesus here reminds us that if you want to lead the blind into salvation? Set the right example yourself.
Verse 46: And why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? (Luk 6:46 MKJV)
And if we’re serious about the commitment to our Lord, then we need to hear what He tells us.
So the context shows us that Jesus is talking about the way we deal with those in the world and not how much we put into offerings.
Monday, October 26, 2009
CHRISTIANITY UNDER ATTACK!
CHRISTIANITY UNDER ATTACK!
Please be alert to the threats facing us today.
FROM JAY SEKULOW: Efforts are intensifying to criminalize those who speak out against Islam. It's a UN resolution that puts the lives of Christians at risk around the globe. With this ruling, a Christian couldn't say Jesus is Lord.
See Short Video (2 min) here.
Hear Radio Broadcast (30 min) here.
Folks, we need to wake up to the threat of Radical Islam, that wishes to persecute Christians and overturn America's freedoms.
Grouping 57 Muslim states, The Organization of Islamic Conference is one of the largest bodies in the United Nations. The OIC has proposed a binding resolution at the United Nations, called the Defamation of Religions Resolution. It proposes to make illegal, throughout the world, any criticism of Islam -- which, by extension, includes the proclamation and advancement of the Christian gospel over Islam.
Sharia Law is the Islamic Constitution under Allah. Islam wants the whole world engulfed under Sharia Law. And they will carry out their objective in piecemeal fashion, even if it takes decades. So, they will move methodically into every aspect of society and attempt to impose their Sharia Law wherever they go: in schools, workplaces, government.
Go to Europe and see how the social fabric has been irreversibly changed.
And, it's not a coincidence that President Obama, being the head of this nation, has opened the door, spiritually speaking, to allow an encroachment of Radical Islam into our culture.
Pray that that door gets closed in the next election.
Please be alert to the threats facing us today.
FROM JAY SEKULOW: Efforts are intensifying to criminalize those who speak out against Islam. It's a UN resolution that puts the lives of Christians at risk around the globe. With this ruling, a Christian couldn't say Jesus is Lord.
See Short Video (2 min) here.
Hear Radio Broadcast (30 min) here.
Folks, we need to wake up to the threat of Radical Islam, that wishes to persecute Christians and overturn America's freedoms.
Grouping 57 Muslim states, The Organization of Islamic Conference is one of the largest bodies in the United Nations. The OIC has proposed a binding resolution at the United Nations, called the Defamation of Religions Resolution. It proposes to make illegal, throughout the world, any criticism of Islam -- which, by extension, includes the proclamation and advancement of the Christian gospel over Islam.
Sharia Law is the Islamic Constitution under Allah. Islam wants the whole world engulfed under Sharia Law. And they will carry out their objective in piecemeal fashion, even if it takes decades. So, they will move methodically into every aspect of society and attempt to impose their Sharia Law wherever they go: in schools, workplaces, government.
Go to Europe and see how the social fabric has been irreversibly changed.
And, it's not a coincidence that President Obama, being the head of this nation, has opened the door, spiritually speaking, to allow an encroachment of Radical Islam into our culture.
Pray that that door gets closed in the next election.
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