Purge with a passion

Here's a new book--but I'm not sure you want to give it as a Christmas gift--it might seem like a hint. Buy it for yourself and keep it on the coffee table. "Purge with passion; organizing principles from a Christian perspective," by Jodie Watson, WestBow Press, 2013. (ISBN 978-1-4497-9513-9, $17.95).  WestBow is a division of Thomas Nelson.

I'm not a hoarder, and I'm not swamped with clutter. . . but I do have "stuff." Stuff that's really important to me, that belonged to my great grandparents—tools and dishes, or my grandmother’s scrap books, or a Christmas dress sewn by my mother for a 1955 dance, or Mother’s Day plates my kids made for me 40 years ago, or books I'll never read, or my grandfather's 11th ed. of the Encyclopedia Britannica (also the 12th and 13th), or glass dishes from my childhood, or my wedding dress (also my sister’s, made by our mother), or my parents' bedroom set, and so on. See? Just the important stuff.

Watson, who is from England, has family in West Africa, and when she visited she saw they had so much less than those of us in "developed" countries, but seemed happier. This is so much more than a book about clutter. It's about being free to live your life for Christ when you lay down your burdens.

http://www.supremeorganization.com/wordpress1/Assets_Library/Media_Kit/2011_Media_Kit.pdf

Snowbama

Common Core—are you smarter than 4th grade math?

Government bureaucrats, from your local board up to Arne Duncan (Dept. of Education) will demean your concerns, calling parents the educational equivalent of racist or homophobe if they try to organize and express their concern. Time to stand up for your children.

Progressives on Social Security

There are so many holes in this testimony about Social Security it is hard to know where to poke. GW Bush wanted to reform SS by creating private accounts, but the "progressives" screamed.  It would have meant we actually owned and controlled and passed along our investment--taking it out of government hands, an anathema to the left.

http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/testimony/testimony-on-the-importance-of-social-security-for-sustaining-living-standards-in-retirement

Stop with the anti-Christmas meme!

Not once have I ever been stopped from saying “Merry Christmas.” Now, I have complained in the past that the Upper Arlington Public Library “holiday book list” doesn’t contain a single mention of Christmas; but there are churches that call their bazaars Holiday Frolic, and their concerts Festive Fun for All.  Why should I expect more from the library?

Hey, there are real Christians really being murdered for their real faith in other parts of the real world.  Areas and nations where they used to worship in safety, or a few hundred years ago, represented a major religion.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/christians-face-organised-persecution-from-islamists-in-middle-east-says-prince-charles-9012254.html

http://www.raymondibrahim.com/from-the-arab-world/jihad-on-jesus-militants-firebomb-new-christ-statue-and-ancient-monastery-syria/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelly-james-clark/christianity-most-persecuted-religion_b_2402644.html

http://www.wnd.com/2012/09/persecution-of-christians-on-rise-in-u-s/

Distracted kids grow up to be distracted parents

"On October 1 (1990) the Wall Street Journal reported on the drop in literacy among school age children (Distractions of modern life)--even those whose mothers had spent hours reading to them as pre-schoolers. Children are too busy to read because of all their outside activities, no one converses with them, and they have developed two minute attention spans through TV and videos, concluded the article.

So that was 23 years ago, and those mothers who were too busy to read as children, now have smart phones, i-pods, i-tablets, e-books and they are posting on Face Book and Twitter and blogging, or tacking digital thingies on their Etsy page or Pinterest. They have children that hang out in groups with each child talking on the phone, but not to each other.

This doesn’t seem to be getting better.

Paula Priesse on the Messiah complex of Barbara Walters

“In one sentence Barbara Walters last night perfectly encapsulated the emotional immaturity of the liberal elite. When CNN’s Piers Morgan asked her why President Obama is “struggling,” a disappointed Walters responded: “We thought that he was going to be - I shouldn't say this at Christmastime, but - the next messiah.”

First of all, what’s up with this “we” business? She’s certainly not talking about all of us. If she means her media cohorts, at least Walters finally admits that they’ve been in the tank for Obama since day one.

Secondly, what possibly made Walters feel this way? Barack Obama was a one-term senator with not a single day of executive experience. Which makes one conclude that it was simply a matter of skin color. If so, Barbara’s cocktail buddies must be the most shallow and insipid individuals on the face of the earth.

Finally, and most importantly, anyone who thinks that any politician, left or right, will be America’s next “messiah” is mentally ill. The majority in this country, Ms. Walters, still believe that there is, and will forever be, only one true “Messiah.” “

Organizing for America’s silly ads

OFA has put out an ad with a dopey Millennial in his Onesie PJs drinking hot cocoa urging his age demographic to sit around and talk about health care.  So of course, people are ridiculing and revising it—to wait for the website to load.

This is sillier than the ads from the Colorado exchange which Democrats claim is not their fault nor tax supported because a non-profit designed them and they were meant to be “provocative.” Doh!

It’s almost as though someone on his own staff doesn’t like him

Eula Hall interview

Recently I received a notice of a new book about Eula Hall who has run a medical clinic in Kentucky since 1973, Mud Creek Medicine: The Life of Eula Hall and the Fight for Appalachia.  Upon checking, I found a 1988 interview for an oral history project, Appalachia Oral History Collection, Family and Gender in the Coal  Community Oral History Project.  I think you’ll enjoy it.

Interview with Eula Hall, June 14, 1988

"Whether it is the trailblazing, family feuds, coal miners' strife, moonshinin', or just folksy charm, the personal stories of individuals found in the hills of Appalachia often do rise to the heights of drama and intrigue, and reach to the depths of the American experience. Eula Hall's life is no exception. Eula's story is of a woman of remarkable strength, shaped by her community above all else. It is a story that should appeal to those with no connection to Appalachia, and to those who simply want to leave the world a better place than they found it. From a rugged mountain youth to hired girl to organizer, health care entrepreneur, and iconoclast, Eula's story echoes the story of America in the twentieth century, in all her rage and glory. She is the quintessential Appalachian-American poverty warrior combined with bucolic self-sufficiency, and she represents a dual ethos of community and individualism that is unique to the mountains.

"Eula, like so many quiet civic heroes, didn't do it for fame because, in her words, 'Fame ain't worth a damn'; didn't do it for accolades because 'We need action, not awards'; and sure as hell didn't do it for money because she's 'been rich without money since birth.' She fought on, and risked her life at times, as the sign outside the clinic reads: 'For the People.'" Pages: xvi – xvx Mud Creek Medicine

Butler Books, 2014.

More woes to come with Obamacare

The poorly named, “Affordable Care Act” is only going to get worse, reports an article in the Wall Street Journal on the 15th.

“More IT failures are likely. People looking for health plans on ObamaCare exchanges may be able to fill out their applications with more ease. But the far more complex back-office side of the website—where the information in their application is checked against government databases to determine the premium subsidies and prices they will be charged, and where the applications are forwarded to insurance companies—is still under construction. Be prepared for eligibility, coverage gap, billing, claims, insurer payment and patient information-protection debacles.”

“In the nearer term, a political iceberg looms next year [2014]. Insurance companies usually submit proposed pricing to regulators in the summer, and the open enrollment period begins in the fall for plans starting Jan. 1. Businesses of all sizes that currently provide health care will have to offer ObamaCare's expensive, mandated benefits, or drop their plans and—except the smallest firms—pay a fine. Tens of millions of Americans with employer-provided health plans risk paying more for less, and losing their policies and doctors to more restrictive networks. The administration is desperately trying to delay employer-plan problems beyond the 2014 election to avoid this shock.”

From a different WSJ article, Almost everyone loses

“. . . what ObamaCare means to the uninsured who were not uninsurable is higher prices for a product they already were disinclined to buy, along with a punitive tax on not buying it. That seems more like a mugging than a benefit.

How many of the uninsured lack insurance because of pre-existing conditions? It's hard to know, but it would appear the proportion is not high.”

“If ObamaCare's architects had approached the matter intelligently, they would have conducted research to identify the extent of that precise problem and carefully targeted their response. Government is quite capable of implementing even modest programs disastrously, but the hubris of demanding "comprehensive reform" gave us a law that had to be marketed via massive consumer fraud, and that harms almost everyone it affects.”

Oops. Obama supporters losing insurance

“Many in New York’s professional and cultural elite have long supported President Obama’s health care plan. But now, to their surprise, thousands of writers, opera singers, music teachers, photographers, doctors, lawyers and others are learning that their health insurance plans are being canceled and they may have to pay more to get comparable coverage, if they can find it.” New York Times  In the past (before Obama) they were able to purchase health insurance with group rates through their associations—now they are thrown on to the pricey individual market.

“. . . under the Affordable Care Act, they will be treated as individuals, responsible for their own insurance policies. For many of them, that is likely to mean they will no longer have access to a wide network of doctors and a range of plans tailored to their needs. And many of them are finding that if they want to keep their premiums from rising, they will have to accept higher deductible and co-pay costs or inferior coverage.“

But of course, it’s all the Obstructionist Republicans who are to blame, just like the untrained, unvetted navigators is just a plot to defeat this.

Washington Post has listed the president’s “If you like your health care plan.. .” as one of the big whoppers of 2013. 

Abby Johnson is fruitful and a blessing to the oppressed, a savior for the unborn

At one time she helped women obtain abortions—she worked for Planned Parenthood.  She also had abortions and knows exactly the physical and psychological pain—and realizes how ignorant she was at that time.  Now a Christian, Abby Johnson works to prevent abortion, and has a special heart for abortion workers, encouraging them to leave their jobs and helping them find new careers.  An amazing lady. Today she announces a new blessing.

Genesis 1:28 says, "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.'"
Psalm 127:3 says, "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him."

Doug and I feel incredibly blessed to announce that we are pregnant with Johnson baby #4!! We covet your prayers during this exciting time in our lives. Yes, we will "have our hands full," and we can't imagine it any other way.

“Conversion is always at the heart of the prolife movement.
Pray for conversion of abortion clinic workers, those who support abortion, women in crisis pregnancies who may consider abortion, abortion supporting clergy and religious, abortion supporting politicians, apathetic Christians and those in our own movement who seek to divide and destroy our common goal.”  Abby

So, some who read this page are being prayed for by Abby. . . and me.

Happy birthday Boston Tea Party, December 16

The Boston Tea Party was a nonviolent political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, on December 16, 1773. The Tea Party became an iconic event of American history, and other political protests often refer to it--got to love the language, "odious miscreants and detestable tools" "murder and destroy," "vile ingrates," committee for "Tarring and Feathering." Very detailed history of the event at this site.

http://williamdbailey.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/the-boston-tea-party/

Megyn Kelly and her critics—Santa Claus

I'm not sure what the dust up is about Megyn Kelly reporting that Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) was white. That one I know since today's 19th century caricature is based on a real Scandinavian. The cartoon version can be any ethnicity the parent wants. As for Jesus, who knows? And he's the reason for the season. Yesterday I read a very compelling story about a Syrian man who had fled to Turkey with his family and instead of his successful construction business, he was working in a sweat shop, and happy to get it. He had green eyes and very light skin. As do many Kurds and Berbers.

It's a puffed up argument in my opinion meant to detract and make us all look silly. Kelly's very successful and beautiful, and that makes all the other network talkers mad. No one knew who Aisha Harris was, but they do now after the race baiting, knee jerking men got done ridiculing Kelly. Really, it's embarrassing to even show this, and the level that networks go to (down): http://nation.foxnews.com/2013/12/16/megyn-kelly-addresses-white-santa-comments

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/who-is-st-nicholas/

Catholics shoot themselves in the foot over politics

The only organization/agency large enough and powerful enough to face the power of the federal government is the Catholic Church, which Obama continues to denigrate and insult with his actions and policies, the latest being closing the Vatican embassy, but including the dreadful HHS mandate, using lackey Catholics in his administration and announcing embryo experimentation at a Catholic institution. Why Catholics continue to put their politics above their church baffles me.

http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/president-obamas-faithful-helpers?

“In an interview with the National Catholic Reporter, [Raymond] Flynn said “it’s not just those who bomb churches and kill Catholics in the Middle East who are our antagonists but it’s also those who restrict our religious freedoms and want to close down our embassy to the Holy See. There’s no diplomatic or political benefit to the United States.”

“This latest insult to Catholics by President Obama is just the most recent attempt to weaken the influence of the Church on family and life issues. It is a strategy that has been effective for the President since the earliest days of his presidential campaign when he enlisted the help of progressive Catholic groups like the George Soros-supported Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and its sister-organization, Catholics United, to successfully convince Catholic voters to focus on social justice issues like poverty as the way to reduce abortion rates without restricting abortion rights. Refusing to hold politicians like President Obama and Kathleen Sebelius accountable for their votes in favor of partial birth abortion and taxpayer funded abortion here and abroad, the Alliance for the Common Good and Catholics United encouraged Catholics to elect candidates who would address what they called the “root causes” of abortion.”

An atheist’s view on life

as opposed to a Christian’s view on life.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen. 
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end. 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen. [Lutheran Book of Worship, Book of Common Prayer]

I love this creed.   In our worship, we don't use it as often as the Apostle's Creed, but it is the most common and frequently used in Christendom. ". . . and was made man" has probably been changed to "became truly human," but the LBW is from 1977.  And so far, we still have Father and Son.

"We look for the resurrection of the dead."  That's our hope.  And it's everyone, even unbelievers and those who hate God. John 5:28-29

 ²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.

Obama’s database will live longer than his presidency

“The President has put in place an organization with the kind of database that no one has ever seen before in life,” Representative Maxine Waters told Roland Martin, “That’s going to be very, very powerful,” Waters said. “That database will have information about everything on every individual on ways that it’s never been done before and whoever runs for President on the Democratic ticket has to deal with that. They’re going to go down with that database." Waters (D-CA) was ...explaining the 2014 and 2016 elections on Washington Watch, Feb. 2013, and apparently knew about the NSA spying, and the IRS mugging. Sometimes a blabber mouth is useful. Martin was suggesting that people had to get what they wanted now (that Obama was in his second term and OFA was a 501c4) but she stopped him and said there were much bigger plans afoot and that Organizing For America had a database. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=49a_1360284775

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/05/15/organizing-for-action-obamas-group-has-yet-to-apply-to-irs

Trans-Pacific Partnership

“There are many important lessons from ObamaCare that we should apply to another huge project that could have a similarly devastating impact on our nation. In November 2009, President Obama announced his intention to have the United States participate in a so-called trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I say so-called trade agreement because 80 percent of the proposed agreement deals with a great many issues besides trade.”

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/foreign-policy/item/17175-trans-pacific-partnership-tpp-bigger-and-more-dangerous-than-obamacare