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No Isn't The Answer

I like Mike Rogers, a congressman from my home state--seems like a straight up guy, and a politician (an oxymoron I know).

However, I have a beef. "No" isn't the answer a lot of us want to hear. The health care industry needs cleaning up, and maybe a little rolling of some heads. The time for Washington to stand by and stand pat came and went a long time ago, but I want nothing to do with government health care and one of the main reasons is because of the issues Mike Rogers raises here.



My story is a little different than the congressmans however. When I needed my Blue Cross/Blue Shield several years ago they were too busy counting their $ and denying me care and claiming that Lyme Disease was a figment of my imagination while my body was going to hell. I'll amen the argument that the insurance providers don't need the government as competition (and neither do we unless we want crap coverage), what the insurance companies need is a swift kick in the ass.

You Can Run On For A Long Time

One of the most underappreciated musicians of our time.

Health Insurance Reform and Common Sense

Thank you Mike Rogers. Health care and common sense... there's a noble idea! Being unemployed and w/o health insurance myself, I want nothing to do with Obama-Care. I find it strange to hear the government speaking about keeping the health insurance industry honest, makes my skin crawl. The idea of the government keeping anyone honest is akin to making a pyromaniac fire chief.



I'm all for reforming and even over-hauling the current system if need be to get costs down. I know what atrocities and b/s goes on related to health insurance and conventional medicine first hand having had come down with what could have turned out to be a fatal disease (Lyme) a few years ago and then having my insurance company (and a good one at that) stick it to me by refusing coverage cause the disease didn't exist in the lower peninsula of my state (only the upper they said, I guess the birds don't migrate south here and the deer don't travel over the Mackinaw Bridge?).

I say change is needed. The profits these companies make by denying coverage to paying customers are staggering, and customers who bank on their being there when they need them most! That's one thing that needs to be addressed fo starters, health insurance thats there when you need it.

If I were a Rich Man

I didn't get it when I was a kid. My dad's favorite movie went unappreciated for years and years by me, his son. But now that I have lived life and experienced its ups and downs, boy, do I get it now. I love this scene from "Fiddler on the Roof".

Now I know where the Bare Naked Ladies got their inspiration from.

One Day's Wages

Eugene Cho and his wife are up to something worth supporting. I have been following their progress, and what God has done in one short year with the vision they have is amazing.

If you have a heart for those much less fortunate and in dire need of help, you might pray about what you can do.

A Monopoly of Crime

It can not even be said that the State has ever shown any disposition to suppress crime, but only to safeguard its own monopoly of crime. ~Albert Jay Nock

What a Ride

I'd like one of these one day when I'm driving down streets of gold listening to U2.

Some beautiful scenery too.

Woody Allen on Abraham

I found the following pretty funny...

And Abraham awoke in the middle of the night and said to his only son, Isaac, "I have had a dream where the voice of the Lord sayeth that I must sacrifice my only son, so put your pants on."

And Isaac trembled and said, "So what did you say? I mean when he brought this whole thing up?"

"What am I going to say?" Abraham said. "I'm standing there at two A.M. I'm in my underwear with the Creator of the Universe. Should I argue?"

"Well, did he say why he wants me sacrificed?" Isaac asked his father.

But Abraham said, "The faithful do not question. Now let's go because I have a heavy day tomorrow."

And Sarah who heard Abraham's plan grew vexed and said, "How doth thou know it was the Lord and not, say, thy friend who loveth practical jokes, for the Lord hateth practical jokes and whosoever shall pull one shall be delivered into the hands of his enemies whether they pay the delivery charge or not."

And Abraham answered, "Because I know it was the Lord. It was a deep, resonant voice, well modulated, and nobody in the desert can get a rumble in it like that."

And Sarah said, "And thou art willing to carry out this senseless act?" But Abraham told her, "Frankly yes, for to question the Lord's word is one of the worst things a person can do, particularly with the economy in the state it's in."

And so he took Isaac to a certain place and prepared to sacrifice him but at the last minute the Lord stayed Abraham's hand and said, "How could thou doest such a thing?"

And Abraham said, "But thou said ---"

"Never mind what I said," the Lord spake. "Doth thou listen to every crazy idea that comes thy way?" And Abraham grew ashamed. "Er - not really … no."

"I jokingly suggest thou sacrifice Isaac and thou immediately runs out to do it."

And Abraham fell to his knees, "See, I never know when you're kidding."

And the Lord thundered, "No sense of humor. I can't believe it."

"But doth this not prove I love thee, that I was willing to donate mine only son on thy whim?"

And the Lord said, "It proves that some men will follow any order no matter how asinine as long as it comes from a resonant, well-modulated voice."

And with that, the Lord bid Abraham get some rest and check with him tomorrow.

~Woody Allen, "Without Feathers" (page 26-27)

HT: Geoff Pound

Fearing "Our" Government

And I wonder why there are those of us who fear "our" government.

Carolina Liar has Something to Say

I just dig this tune.



Wait, I'm wrong
Should have done better than this
Please, I'll be strong
I'm finding it hard to resist
So show me what I'm looking for

Save me, I'm lost
Oh lord, I've been waiting for you
I'll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I'm looking for
Show me what I'm looking for...oh lord

Don't let go
I've wanted this far too long
Mistakes become regrets
I've learned to love abuse
Please show me what I'm looking for

Save me, I'm lost
Oh Lord, I've been waiting for you
I'll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I'm looking for
Show me what I'm looking for... oh Lord
Show me what I'm looking for

Save me, I'm lost
Oh lord, I've been waiting for you
I'll pay any cost
Just save me from being confused

Wait, I'm wrong
I can't do better than this
I'll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I'm looking for... oh Lord

Dear Mr. President

On Human Nature

I wish I could have sat under John Stott's teaching and preaching ministry.

Much that we take for granted in a civilized society is based upon the assumption of human sin. Nearly all legislation has grown up because human beings cannot be trusted to settle their own disputes with justice and without self-interest. A promise is not enough; we need a contract. Doors are not enough; we have to lock and bolt them. The payment of fares is not enough; tickets have to be issued, inspected and collected. Law and order are not enough; we need the police to enforce them. All this is due to man’s sin. We cannot trust each other. We need protection against one another. It is a terrible indictment of human nature. ~John Stott, Basic Christianity

A Prayer for Forgiveness

Lord, please forgive me. Forgive me for looking to others for the acceptance that only you can cover me in. Forgive me for looking to my job (or lack thereof) for the security only you can richly provide. Forgive me for looking to my collection of books for the wisdom only you can share. Forgive me for looking to my surroundings for the peace that only you can grant. Forgive me for looking to my church for the faith that only you can create in me. And forgive me for seeking that which is trivial and temporal--as well as the praise of men. And above all else: Forgive me for not seeking you and your Kingdom more.

Amen

Patience and Repentance

Today I caught a clip of Mark Driscoll calling out men to be men. I'd heard some of the rage over his doing so--so I was all ears. Much of what he said I agreed with (those who have followed my blogs elsewhere know I am a Driscoll fan, mostly because of his constant emphasis on Jesus--specifically the genuine Jesus). But it was the spirit and tone in which Driscoll shared his concerns (rebuke) that I found extremely unhelpful and childish.

We who preach repentance would do well to remember these words from Paul.

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? ~Romans 2:1-4, ESV (italics mine)

Maybe a little patience from us could go a long ways with our brothers who are not as far along as us--those brothers who are presently stuck in habitual sin, gross sin, or any other type of sin for that matter (as we have been ourselves if we are honest even a smidgen).

You can see the clip here at Jared Wilson's awesome "Gospel-Driven Church" blog.