evidence of the gospel from within

Awesome post, Keith. You are planting seeds and g...

2010-09-13T09:19:18.026-07:00

Awesome post, Keith. You are planting seeds and growing kids to look like Jesus. When everything is falling apart that day, and she's upset with her friends/parents/siblings, our middle schooler knows who will listen. Who cares. Who can change it. And she goes to Him. How do I know? She tells me. You, my friend, are teaching kids that admist the crap that happens in their lives, they have one heck of a teammate on their side. And that He grants them the power to be like Him. Thank God.

It is amazing that the number 44 million changed t...

2009-09-16T13:54:44.954-07:00

It is amazing that the number 44 million changed to 30 million all of a sudden when the president last spoke. That number is even exaggerated. Senior citizens are covered by Medicare and the poor are covered by Medicade. A good portion of that number are young healthy people that just don't want to pay for coverage. Should they be forced to? That is not freedom. Healthcare is not a right, nowherein the Constitution will you see it stated that it is. I wonder how many of the "uninsured" have cell phones, cable or sattelite tv, and frequently go to sporting events and movies. Many Americans need to re-evaluate their priorities. The majority of Americans that have good coverage and like it should not have to lose it just to help a small portion of the population. There are other ways to lower costs but since when has the government been able to spend money more efficiently and with little waste. It never happens.

I agree that we should take care of the people in this country, but it is not "oppresive" to say that it is not the job of government to do so. That is the job of the church as mandated by God. If all of us christ followers were tithers there would be plenty of investment into the kingdom to do more to help the communities all over this country. I believe the real tragedy is that too many people look to the government to solve their problems instead of looking to themselves.

I cannot reconcile my christianity with the democrat party since they actively persue such offensive abortion laws that they take the right of the parent to consent away, attack the institute of marriage, support organizations that want to get christian beliefs and symbols erased from society.

Rachel, Your spirit of charity is admirable, and ...

2009-09-13T13:06:50.789-07:00

Rachel,
Your spirit of charity is admirable, and quite American, as America is likely the most charitable nation in the world. You sound like my kind of person, charitable, and concerned about the world around them. However, I’m afraid that your faith in the Federal government to be the best vehicle for providing charity to the needy is misplaced, though common, understandable, and a key component to the existence of such Federal social programs as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The main problem is that all these programs are in debt and going further into debt. Or put another way, we’ve allowed ourselves as a nation to provide ourselves with retirement funds and medical treatment largely on credit, borrowed from foreign countries (such as China), and to be paid by our children, or their children, or their children… whoever gets caught with the hot potato when the music stops, or literally, when one of our creditors decides to call in their loans. For the first half of this nation’s existence, charity was handled by private sector organizations such as churches, until it was decided to interpret the Constitution’s term “welfare” in “common defense and general welfare of the United States” as meaning providing private citizens services intended by the founders to be restricted to private sector. The founders realized that elected officials would be more motivated to provide voters with services than to charge those voters for them. Consequently, there is motivation to charge a few for services provided to many, maximizing the number of happy voters, or undercharge, thus delaying the payment for said political favors until after the next election, if not the next generation. Reform is needed, but not in the form of turning the nation’s healthcare system over to the Federal government. Along with the financial concern, one might add the refusal by proponents of healthcare to consider amendments to the bill prohibiting funding for abortion or for illegal immigrants. When services are provided by a political entity rather than the private sector, political agendas are difficult to avoid, if not impossible. If you’ve managed to wade through my lengthy comment, I thank you, and welcome any responses you may have, as such dialogue is beneficial to all.

M

2009-09-13T11:40:41.499-07:00

Thank you for sharing this. I'm posting this ...

2009-09-10T20:53:10.874-07:00

Thank you for sharing this. I'm posting this on my blog now too. Everyone should see this!

And those of us with insurance already do pay for ...

2009-09-09T18:44:09.652-07:00

And those of us with insurance already do pay for others' healthcare. Who do you think pays for uninsured visits to the ER? That would be the insured via increased premiums, etc.

Well stated, Rachel.

Jeff, I'm not sure I understand your concept o...

2009-09-09T14:16:48.601-07:00

Jeff, I'm not sure I understand your concept of "the freedoms that this country was built on." The Constitution (in the Taxing and Spending Clause) permits the government to levy taxes for the general welfare of the nation. It already does this for the purposes of public health, welfare, and education. What Constitutional or "God-given rights of freedom" are you being denied under universal health care?

Also, how would you be denied medicine you can afford? Nobody is forcing your hand. If you want to maintain private coverage, or even pay outright, you'd be perfectly free to do so.

Finally, to offer to pay a family's insurance premiums is assuming the family has insurance coverage at all. How about those so ill they're uninsurable, the unemployed, or those without a job that provides insurance? The issue is not with the individuals with an employer-provided insurance option. Have you ever priced Cobra or other non-employer health care plans?

You're right on one point: the government will be forcing its citizens to pay for others' health care. I don't have children, yet a portion of my property taxes go towards public schools. I'm not a big fan of the war, but I'm still paying for it. The list goes on...

This is the world in which we live. The Church sho...

2009-09-09T14:13:35.359-07:00

This is the world in which we live. The Church should look different. After all, we're not supposed to conform to the pattern of this world. Sadly, kids growing up in the "church" are just as busy. Parents think its ok for their kids to be super busy with all kinds of extra-curricular activities. After all--that's one of the advantages of living in a place like America. So many options. A major problem, though, is that the majority of the things that people are filling their time with are temporary--meaning that they really don't have much eternal value. Conversations filled with faith, hope, and love---true believers who get outside of wherever their comfort zone may be and actually start doing life with others--even if it means getting dirty---these things we will carry with us into eternity. If our schedules keep us from doing these type of things, can we really call ourselves true Christ-Followers? I've been asking this of myself a lot lately?

Sorry Keith--this was a bit of a hijack. I do have my own blog!

Love you brother. You're amazing!

so, if each person who has thus far commented on t...

2009-09-08T21:07:19.787-07:00

so, if each person who has thus far commented on this blog sponsors one family...well, that still leaves us a bit short. i wouldn't mind paying for health care for someone else, but i think this still misses the point. personal charity is a limited answer because of high insurance premiums, i can barely afford to pay for my own insurance. i think that for our family, insured through a small business, premiums are around $1500 per mo. i have not written what i have written as a supporter of barack's specific program. however, i am supportive of a sensible and affordable option, whatever that may be; an option that is more egalitarian than what we have now. poverty is not a political issue, it is a spiritual issue. in considering a plan, any plan, this would be my motivation. not taxes, or freedoms. freedom comes through jesus christ.

2009-09-08T21:04:59.108-07:00

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2009-09-08T20:56:15.132-07:00

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2009-09-08T20:55:39.545-07:00

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I hope my opinion is as valid as Mr. Boyd's ev...

2009-09-08T20:18:51.593-07:00

I hope my opinion is as valid as Mr. Boyd's even though I haven't written any books.
Maybe we could all find it in our kind hearts to sponsor a poor person or family and pay their monthly insurance premium(s). Why are we waiting on our government to make us do it? The reason is because we think it's free! Who's going to pay for the 44 million's healthcare? YOU are! So let's agree that in some way the United States Government will be forcing its citizens to pay for the less fortunate's healthcare. If you're willing to do that, please don't wait on the government... Open a healthcare plan for someone who can't afford it tomorrow. Or at least give them the money to do so.

Disclaimer: This was written by my husband Doug a...

2009-09-08T19:40:59.918-07:00

Disclaimer: This was written by my husband Doug and not by Sarah. He couldn't remember his Google Password! :)

Yes, we should do something for those who cannot a...

2009-09-08T19:35:52.065-07:00

Yes, we should do something for those who cannot afford health insurance. I am all for a rational approach to providing insurance for those who need insurance, and cannot afford it. The reality is that this highly politicized discussion is easily slanted through statistics, and loaded terms, as well as arguments which attack people instead of their arguments. I am opposed to the Obama/Congressional plan because the net effect will be to harm the health care of ALL, as opposed to simply providing the kind of care we enjoy now to everyone. A look around the world at other government plans in other countries teaches us that governments ultimately cannot afford to provide quality care to everyone who needs health care. Governments are forced to place caps on the dollar amount of health care an individual can "consume", on a scale based on age and return on investment for the government. An idea that this administrations health advisors have already endorsed, in print! Witness the long waiting lists for average citizens for very basic procedures. I would prefer that we as a nation find an approach which would provide insurance for the 12 million legal citizens who are chronically unable to afford health insurance. If you subtract the those who are illegally here, and those who are young, and in the least need of health insurance, that number of 44 million is really much smaller. Do you really believe that we can simply provide insurance for 44 million additional people, without adding millions of new doctors/providers, w/out rationing health care, and creating inordinate waiting lists for basic care? No, the current proposal is the worst possible idea to fix the problem we face. Those of us in opposition to this plan are not evil hate mongers who wish to see poor uninsured people suffer! We want a solution that will help the needy, without making everyone suffer. The manner in which this is being pushed w/such urgency raises the question in my mind that there could be a political component to for the ruling party to achieve a symbolic victory for having "fixed" the health care problems, once and for all. The result will be catastrophic for our economy, our liberty, and our health care system- which for all its faults, provides us w/very high quality care, and statistically very high customer satisfaction.

Jeff, as followers of Jesus Christ and citizens of...

2009-09-08T18:54:37.142-07:00

Jeff, as followers of Jesus Christ and citizens of HIS kingdom instead of an earthly one, our priority and aim should be for the least of these and not our national interests.

Read The Myth of a Christian Religion by Gregory Boyd. Excellent.

keith. it is with tears in my eyes and chill bump...

2009-09-08T18:14:40.765-07:00

keith.

it is with tears in my eyes and chill bumps on my arms, that i say to you...'can i get a witness'!
ironically, i was having a similar conversation today with someone who considers herself to be an agnostic. the gist of the conversation was this, it is hard to understand why so many christians align themselves with the republican party when the rhetoric of the r.n.p. is so unlike anything jesus would have said.

pow! right between the eyes.

sure, i know that the republican party is the party of anti-abortion legislation and same-sex marriage. two biggies, i know. however, what is so sad to me is that when christians, both republicans and democrats, starting talking politics, the politics of the u.s. seems to hold a higher place in their hierarchy of allegiance than the kingdom of god. (i am guilty of this as well so a finger points right back at me as i make any accusations.) the issue of health care has made allegiances seem even more ugly. i have seen fb updates and overheard conversations that are just down right hateful. one such update read, "everyone should understand that health care is a privilege, not a right." excuse me?????? easily said from someone who lives in a $200k house, drives a nice vehicle, and currently has heath care. there is no other way to say it. it would seem, if you were to take a poll among those who are spewing at the moment, that the 44 million who don't have access to health care are lacking because they are bums, hobos, or lazy individuals who want to get ahead, (if you can call being able to go to the doctor getting ahead)at the expense of someone elses' hard work. they place a higher priority on keeping taxes low than making health care accessible to everyone.

i agree with you that something has to be done! as a christ follower this is an issue that should not be relegated to partisan politics but one that should be central to the type of christ follower i want to be! the type of christ follower i want my children to be!

the 44 million are not faceless. i once dwelt among this population. when i was a child living in the suburbs of chicago, my father was laid off from his job in the steel mills. no steady paycheck, no health benefits. my dad worked 2 part-time jobs and my mom watched children in our home to make ends meet. my sister, who was six at the time, began to have horrible headaches. the word from the pediatrician was that my sister had a brain tumor. our family had barely been able to afford the visit to the doctor, my parents were now paralyzed with feelings of helplessness as they knew they could not afford the tests or possible treatments required for my sister. my parents attempted to pay out of pocket but eventually lost everything, our cars and our home.

keith, i am sorry to have hijacked your blog with such a long comment. it is just that what you have written has resonated with what i have been feeling lately. thank you for putting your thoughts out there. i am very grateful that a person who has such a significant role in my daughter's life aligns with not only what i would teach her myself, but with the heart of jesus.

I'm not sure the "brood of vipers" w...

2009-09-08T17:58:03.798-07:00

I'm not sure the "brood of vipers" wants to deny the poor of healthcare as much as they want to preserve the freedoms that this country was built on.
When a government begins to dictate who deserves healthcare and who doesn't, we begin to lose our God-given rights of freedom.
Just as the poor shouldn't be judged for their circumstances... No one should be judged on their right to defend their freedom.
If I'm denied medicine that I CAN afford because I don't meet certain guidelines determined by a governing body, then I'm not free!

buh-ring IT! Fantastic stuff right there!

2009-09-07T23:19:04.197-07:00

buh-ring IT! Fantastic stuff right there!

oh DANG i LOVE THIS totally showing this to the yo...

2009-09-07T19:46:36.669-07:00

oh DANG i LOVE THIS
totally showing this to the youth group...and my small group...and maybe everyone else I know

wow. that is one I'm gonna have to watch a fe...

2009-09-07T16:06:40.890-07:00

wow. that is one I'm gonna have to watch a few more times to let it sink in, y'know?

Family, bro! So Sweet!

2009-06-29T12:35:10.786-07:00

Family, bro! So Sweet!

beautiful

2009-06-27T13:04:08.475-07:00

beautiful

KJT- You have a GOD given talent to lead and your ...

2009-06-16T17:47:19.734-07:00

KJT- You have a GOD given talent to lead and your personality is magnetic! These kids don't know what a gift you are!!! I bet next year you'll have over 100! I have so much faith in you! I am SO proud of you!!! Thanks for being an amazing guy! I love you!
N