Young Women of Faith Bible (NIV)

                        

Recently I received a copy of Zonderkidz’ Bible, “Young Women of Faith Bible” to review (c 2001, 2013 www.zonderkidz.com) For this task, I consulted the three grandmothers in our UALC Bible study group. I’m a little out of touch with the niche market of middle school and high school.  They loved it!  They all thought any young girl or woman would really enjoy the pink illustrations—hearts, butterflies, flowers--the excellent, informative side bars, the use of a journal for personal thoughts, and explanations. It features weekly Bible studies, memory verses and challenges, and “if I were there” questions, as well as the Biblical notes and journal suggestions.  And it has what I would have enjoyed at the target age, a topical index and Biblical maps in color.  If you already use Zondervan’s “Women of Faith Study Bible,” this Bible coordinates with it.

The general editor is Susie Shellenberger, a Christian speaker who has written fifty-two books, and lives in Bethany, Oklahoma with her two mini Schnauzers Obie and Amos. Susie is a former youth pastor, high school teacher, and editor. She loves a lot of color with her Scripture.

Is there really a compassion gap?

Nicholas Kristof wrote about one child and one mother for a story, and got 3 comments which he calls an "outrage" and "compassion gap" and then segues into criticism of all conservatives/Republicans--who actually have a much better record for compassion than liberals in all studies. Plus they believe a job is better for poverty than handouts and marriage is one part of the solution to generational poverty!!

He also equates affluence with being Republican, which is just catering to his base—liberal Democrats. Most who read the first story, didn't comment. During the recession, poverty (line) increased by 16%, but food support increased by 58%. And the recent decrease we heard about was because ARRA temporary funding came to an end 4 years after the end of the recession. There is no compassion gap, but the entire nation is getting weary of the liberals' excuses and their failed programs which keep the poor tied to and dependent on politicians.

And where does he come up with this? The liberals propose abortions and close charter schools that help poor and minority children.

“To break cycles of poverty, we have the tools to improve high school graduation rates, reduce teen pregnancies and increase employment. What we lack is the will to do so.”

Like most liberals, he doesn’t break out charitable giving by faith—and whether rich or poor (the very wealthy contribute by far the most,  just like they do taxes).  And although he notes the importance of marriage in getting out of poverty, it’s just a throw away line, almost a straw man so he can criticize conservatives who promote it. Even his formula isn’t correct:  it’s 1) marriage before having children, 2) finish high school, and 3) a job—any job. He lumps unmarried moms, drugs and crime together.

“Critics [this came out of the Clinton administration]  note that if a person manages to get through high school and avoid drugs, crime and parenting outside of marriage, it’s often possible to escape poverty. Fair enough. But if you’re one of the one-fifth of children in West Virginia born with drugs or alcohol in your system, if you ingest lead from peeling paint as a toddler, if your hearing or vision impairments aren’t detected, if you live in a home with no books in a gang-ridden neighborhood with terrible schools — in all these cases, you’re programmed for failure as surely as children of professionals are programed for success.”

This is a horribly depressing home life for any child with no government program in the world that could turn it around, but he blames a compassion gap. But that’s his implication—with enough compassion (there are 79 government transfer programs including Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, low income housing, Head Start, Healthy Start, etc.), we could turn this around.

Kristof insults all his readers by judging them based on a few   snarky comments on Twitter and e-mail.  Man up, Kristof.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/02/opinion/sunday/kristof-the-compassion-gap.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

Besides, in 2008 Kristof noted that Conservatives were more charitable that Liberals.

Arthur Brooks, the author of a book on donors to charity, “Who Really Cares,” cites data that households headed by conservatives give 30 percent more to charity than households headed by liberals. A study by Google found an even greater disproportion: average annual contributions reported by conservatives were almost double those of liberals.

Other research has reached similar conclusions. The “generosity index” from the Catalogue for Philanthropy typically finds that red states are the most likely to give to nonprofits, while Northeastern states are least likely to do so.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/opinion/21kristof.html?_r=0

How many delays before the Democrats wake up?

Remember, he said--Delay the law?  That’s not going to happen as long as I’m President.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/white-house-delay-obamacare-implementation-report-article-1.1710455

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/11/us-usa-healthcare-obama-idUSBREA1A20T20140211

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/11/us/politics/health-insurance-enforcement-delayed-again-for-some-employers.html?_r=0

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304732804579423293276220608?ampmg=reno64-wsj

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/2014/0306/Why-Obamacare-s-March-31-enrollment-deadline-really-can-t-budge-video

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/zeke-emanuel-on-latest-obamacare-delay-obama-thinks-its-worth-it-for-the-political-game/

Were you a Girl Scout or a Leader?

WAGGGS is The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Supports International Women’s Day.  Story about this pro-abortion group.

Girl Scouts have a 40 year relationship with Planned Parenthood, but deny it in their promotional material.  Also, God is optional in the pledge.

CPAC 2014

Rand Paul—sounds a little hoarse, but content is good.

“It isn’t good enough to pick the lesser of 2 evils.”

In his CPAC address, Ted Cruz outlined what Republicans should do to win back the Senate and win the hearts and minds of Americans young and old.

“Let’s look back at the past four elections, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012,” Cruz said. “The only election we won was 2010, when we stood unequivocally for principle….Who are the two people who have energized young people? Ronald Reagan and Ron Paul. What did they do? They painted a bold picture of what America can do…. You win elections by standing for principles and believing that there is a better tomorrow.

“How do we inspire people? Number one we tell the truth…. The truth is Washington is corrupt. You are in some of the richest counties in the country. As more and more people make great wealth in Washington, young people, single moms, and small business owners suffer…. Real change is changing the corruption that is here in Washington, D.C.”

Dinesh D’Souza

Obama didn’t like his first film; he will hate the next one.

Friday Family Photo—homeschooling

My husband hosted his young home schooled friends on Thursday. He set the dining room table with paper plates and napkins with Twinkies and milk. He brought them t-shirts and caps from Haiti with a letter for each from a Haitian child. He showed them a video of his recent short term mission trip. Several weeks ago he did an art class instruction for them; I think today was social studies.

 

They pay him back by being adorable models for his paintings—in the one above his head they are eating ice cream along the lakefront in Lakeside. The other, just finished this week, is a painting of the children in front of the ice cream shop at Lakeside.

Their mother called that tonight to tell him the younger girl prayed at dinner for the children of Haiti, and that they would have enough money to continue their education.

Mumps outbreak at Ohio State University

The Columbus Health Department affirmed that eleven Ohio State students have been diagnosed with suspected mumps. Now, it's possible these are foreign students who were not properly immunized, but they may also be the adult children of mothers who didn't believe in vaccinations. I had it as a child and it's no picnic then--but for adults it's serious. Medical complications include:

Deafness
Orchitis or inflammation of the testes in males that can lead to sterility
Encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the brain or tissues of the brain and spinal cord)
Inflammation of the ovaries
Inflammation of the breasts (mastitis)
Pancreatitis
Mumps in early pregnancy may result in the spontaneous abortion of the fetus.

More tragedies uncovered for Obamacare

If I were an illegal alien living in the USA and Obama promised me that signing up for Obamacare would not endanger me, I think I wouldn't believe him. After all, the entire country was promised when it was passed that illegals wouldn't be covered (many losing the benefits they previously had). Is there anything in that law that passed in 2010 still in place? Yes, the increased costs and what we still need to find--like cutting home health care for seniors which was there, but no one paid any attention. And once the name and details are in the system, no one, not even citizens with impeccable Democrat credentials, have found a way to back out or change it.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/the-inevitability-of-obamacare-for-illegal-immigrants/article/2545114

"When the White House now talks about the “Get Covered” campaign, it’s not about ordinary Americans getting health care. It’s about covering the backsides of the Obama water-carriers who may very well lose their jobs. They’re not just eating their words. They’re choking on Obamacare’s massive, inevitable, job-killing, life-threatening failures." Michelle Malkin

Black teen unemployment in Chicago a disgrace

The teen unemployment rate in the U.S. is 21.4%. In 2006 it was 14%. But I saw a man on Dana Loesch show today who said it was 92% for blacks 16-19 in Chicago. That sounded awfully high, so I checked it. Paul McKinley is very unhappy with Obama and believes he has let blacks down.

http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2014/01/92-of-black-male-teens-unemployed-in-chicago-83-nationally/

The study was  released  by the Urban League. Nationwide 17 percent of black males 16-19 had some sort of job; 12 percent in Illinois; just 8 percent in Chicago.

I wonder how raising the minimum wage will help unemployed teens?

Obama tries to rescue Democrats

In a blatant political move to rescue his namesake legislation to help out Democrats running this fall, Obama has changed it again (a violation of the law) so "you can keep your health plan" until after the election, to Oct. 2017, even if the plan isn't compliant. So for 2 years, 60 year old women won't have to pay for birth control or pediatric coverage. New big break for unions, too. Open enrollment will be extended and he's paying off the insurance companies, which must be pulling their hair out trying to figure out the rules. His plan is to make this so unpalatable, that people will beg for something even more expensive, but less confusing--single payer--and will blame the insurance companies for the chaos he has created.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101469265

The Democrats' War on Women gearing up.

New Medicare cuts in home health care to help fund Obamacare will affect predominately women. Plus it will disproportionately affect women workers who own and staff the home health industry.  Home health care actually drives down medical costs for the elderly.  What were they thinking?http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/28/weber-obamacares-punch-to-home-health-care/

On Jan. 1, Medicare’s home health care services, formerly serving 3.5 million elderly beneficiaries across the country, were cut under Obamacare. The cut deleted exactly 14 percent, or an estimated $22 billion, from these lowest-income Americans over four years. News of the forthcoming cut only trickled out the Friday before Thanksgiving, yet another stunning attempt by the Obama White House to reduce Medicare benefits without attracting notice.

Not Obama’s standard

This should be Obama's standard for SNAP--not how many people he has added, but how many don't need it anymore.

During the last five years, the SNAP program grew by 36.8%, from $58,223,790,000 in 2009 to $79,641,880,000 in 2013. http://cnsnews.com/news/article/ali-meyer/record-20-households-food-stamps-2013#sthash.rIiq4riE.dpuf

However, the number on food stamps decreased in 2012 and 2013 as the economy improved, despite the recruitment for more participants.

In the U.S., hunger is on the list of missing, politically incorrect words; it is “food insecurity,” a much more plastic, pliable term, and it only has to occur very briefly to be included in the stats.

According to USDA Economic Research Service 11.1 percent of all US households were food insecure during some period during 2006. That percentage of food insecure households increased to 14.5 in 2010.

 

Notice the huge jump in costs in 2009—ARRA money was used to recruit more users. By government think, this “infused” money quickly into the economy, but I suspect most went to hire additional workers rather than provide improved nutrition.

From 2007 to 2010, the number of families below 125% of the federal poverty level increased by 16% (because of the recession). That's a lot of people--mostly children without fathers in the home. However, the number of households receiving SNAP benefits increased by 58%. This means that the SNAP recipiency ratio, or the ratio of households receiving SNAP to that below 125% of the poverty line rose by 37%. "The Redistribution Recession," by Casey Mulligan

Urban Institute, a progressive think tank, believes SNAP helps the poor and the economy, as does all the government reports. After all, it is a USDA program. Here’s their take. http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412613-SNAPs-Role-in-the-Great-Recession-and-Beyond.pdf

When Israel is boycotted, it hurts Palestinian Arabs

[John] Kerry, and many others in the West, understand perfectly well that boycotting Israel reduces job opportunities not only for Jews, but also for Palestinians who work for in Israeli factories, farms and settlements, inside Israel as well as in the West Bank. The Palestinians who work there often receive ten times the remuneration, as well as better working conditions, than they would find among their own people, as has been revealed recently by the workers at companies that have actually been building real bridges of peace such as SodaStream, rather than organizations that have been sanctimoniously blowing up the bridges for peace, as Oxfam has. As usual, the Europeans know what will happen if there are fewer ways for the Palestinians to earn a decent living, as they knew when they left all their colonies. In the West Bank, you lose your job, you sell you house, then you sell your car, then after a year, someone knocks on the door and says they will pay you if you throw rocks The first year you say no; the second year you say yes. The Europeans evidently care more about flagellating Israel than helping Palestinians. They are presumably happy to leave the "savages" to go jobless, hungry and at the mercies of their corrupt dictatorships. What good people the Europeans are!"

http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4177/john-kerry-europeans

Palin and Romney

The situation in Ukraine is one that needs an outside, respected leader to call together the European powers to see what can be done to save the Ukrainians from the Russian bear (which killed about 10 million of them in the 1930s and no one spoke up on their behalf). Unfortunately, the 2 we have who know world history and the role fuel plays in these aggressive actions were ridiculed and silenced by our pansy press and fumbling Democrats.

We’re in trouble when Rob Lowe nails it

Some religions are sanctioned for teaching at state universities

"Ohio State's Integrative Medicine Clinic offers acupuncture, Ayurveda, chiropractic, massage, mindfulness instruction, and yoga."  Wexner Medical Center brochure, go.osu.edu/integrativehealth

If you wish to practice the religious observances and techniques of Ayurveda, mindfulness or Yoga, should it be through a state university that probably wouldn't include Christian prayer, music or liturgy in its medical program and course offerings, even though there is enough research available to show Christians live longer and enjoy better health?

Brief definitions from Wikipedia:

“Mindfulness as a psychological concept is the focusing of attention and awareness, based on the concept of mindfulness in Buddhist meditation.”

“Yoga, from the word “yuj” (Sanskrit, “to yoke” or “to unite”), refers to spiritual practices that are essential to the understanding and practice of Hinduism.”

Ayurveda is a discipline of the upaveda or "auxiliary knowledge". It is treated as a supplement or appendix of the Vedas themselves, usually either the Rigveda or the Atharvaveda. The samhita of the Atharvaveda itself contains 114 hymns or incantations for the magical cure of diseases.

                 

A phone, a pen and a Putin

Top 10 actresses compared to top 10 actors

The ignorant right

Sometimes I can’t believe the way some conservative talk show hosts, bloggers, on-line news hounds and website owners underrate President Obama. Folks, he’s not dumb, or careless, or naïve.  He would be if he had core American values, but he doesn’t.  Why does the right continue to fall for this, putting out insipid cartoons, wringing their hands, and thus taking their eyes off the November 2014 prize?

It’s no coincidence that we’re having this flurry of gay marriage law suits and gay coming out parties.  Obama was firmly in the traditional marriage camp until he found out the U.S. Catholic Bishops finally got a spine and were going to hold the line on just who created this universe. The Catholics are leading the fight on abortion and the HHS mandate--compulsory contraceptives in insurance forced on religious agencies despite the assurances of the first amendment.  I guess they figured out from closing their adoption agencies that the thugs in government meant business, and they’d better not concede another inch. 

Compulsory abortions and euthanasia in government health plans are not outside the realm of possibility if the social thugs just use the same tactics--a few cute TV shows to soften the brain and conscience, celebrities yukking it up with Bill Maher, ridiculing people on Twitter who want to save mama or the disabled, and then calling anyone a bigot or racist who disagrees.

The Roman Catholic Church is the largest provider of social services in the world, the only organization/entity that can compete with a government—any government. The Protestants, totally fractured and disorganized into thousands of competing groups, are a push over for Obama. He talks and walks their language. Learned it in Chicago.  They’ve already got divorced pastors, gay choir directors and “committed partners” teaching Sunday School.  They are not even worth worrying about in the social/cultural battle.  He will have to take on the only church that still stands for something and has some power—and unfortunately there are enough squabbling, petty Christians around who will help him do it.

It’s worked for Benghazi