I believe that we, in the United States should look carefully at the model of socialized medicine we can see clearly in Great Britain that we can see in their National Health Service. The Brits are now in a great controversy with their elections coming up on May 5. They are seriously considering revamping their health service because their cancer survival rates are lagging behind the rest of Europe and especially far behind those rates in the United States. The Conservative Party is proposing pumping £1 billion into the system to improve access to cutting-edge cancer treatments. The Tories are proposing allocating £200 million to pay for drugs that have been prohibited or controlled by Britain’s’ rationing bureaucracies, thereby giving doctors more latitude in prescribing. The Labour government wants to avoid both of these measures. What does all this mean? The Brits are unhappy with their medical and treatment options for cancer.
So…what can we learn from this? I believe that the new American health care bill will result in one of two likely outcomes. The first, I will outline below; the second I will post on my blog next:
1)There will be a mixture of outcomes in America. Many people will be happy with the new services resulting from the new law. Some will be unhappy, particularly older people; but, overall, the positive effects will override the negative outcomes; and a majority will want to keep the services.
2)The costs of the program will go out the overhead.
3)Republicans will paint the program in such an unfavorable light that they will sweep into control of the government.
4)Then, the Republicans will refuse to fund the services adequately.
5)Services will deteriorate; and controversy will cover the whole program.
6)Democrats will come back into power, raise taxes, and borrow more money from abroad to fund the program.
7)Republicans will return to power.
8)Etc., etc. The cycle will continue.
I believe this is the worst outcome of the new law. Follow the next blog post to see the alternative.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Why Go To Church?
(This blog post was excerpted from a blog post by Hank Hanegraaff.)
Will you show up for an Easter worship service this year out of guilt, childhood habit, or is it your weekly routine. The question is, “Why should I attend church services?” More to the point: “Why join a church?” Today, I want to explain the importance of committing to and joining with a local church.
Let me clarify: joining a church should not be approached as an obligation or duty, such as registering to vote, supporting the public library, or taking the trash out. No, joining a local church should be considered a great joy and sacred privilege.
Let’s consider why.
First, throughout the Bible, we see that the believer’s life is to be lived within the context of a family of faith (Ephesians 3:4–15; Acts 2). Indeed the Bible knows nothing about lone-ranger or “closet” Christians! Far from being born again as rugged individuals, we are born into a body of believers of which Christ is the head. A friend of mine aptly remarked, “When we are born again, we are born into a ‘forever family.’”
Furthermore, spiritual growth is impossible apart from membership and participation in a healthy, well-balanced church. It is in the church that we weekly receive the Word and sacraments as means of grace. Recall the early Christians who “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). Moreover, belonging to a body of believers also allows for accountability. The Bible requires that believers respectfully call attention to patterns of persistent, sinful behavior on the part of a member (Matthew 18:15–17).
Finally, while it is in the church that we enter into worship, experience the fellowship of believers, and become equipped to witness, church membership itself does not save us. No, we are rescued from God’s wrath, forgiven of all our sins, and declared positionally righteous before God solely by grace, through faith, on account of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:17; 3:21–4:8; Ephesians 2:8–9).
Will you show up for an Easter worship service this year out of guilt, childhood habit, or is it your weekly routine. The question is, “Why should I attend church services?” More to the point: “Why join a church?” Today, I want to explain the importance of committing to and joining with a local church.
Let me clarify: joining a church should not be approached as an obligation or duty, such as registering to vote, supporting the public library, or taking the trash out. No, joining a local church should be considered a great joy and sacred privilege.
Let’s consider why.
First, throughout the Bible, we see that the believer’s life is to be lived within the context of a family of faith (Ephesians 3:4–15; Acts 2). Indeed the Bible knows nothing about lone-ranger or “closet” Christians! Far from being born again as rugged individuals, we are born into a body of believers of which Christ is the head. A friend of mine aptly remarked, “When we are born again, we are born into a ‘forever family.’”
Furthermore, spiritual growth is impossible apart from membership and participation in a healthy, well-balanced church. It is in the church that we weekly receive the Word and sacraments as means of grace. Recall the early Christians who “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). Moreover, belonging to a body of believers also allows for accountability. The Bible requires that believers respectfully call attention to patterns of persistent, sinful behavior on the part of a member (Matthew 18:15–17).
Finally, while it is in the church that we enter into worship, experience the fellowship of believers, and become equipped to witness, church membership itself does not save us. No, we are rescued from God’s wrath, forgiven of all our sins, and declared positionally righteous before God solely by grace, through faith, on account of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:17; 3:21–4:8; Ephesians 2:8–9).
Thursday, April 1, 2010
America's Founding Principle
A French dignitary, Alexis de Tocqueville, toured America in 1831-1833 to research our prisons and justice system. The American experience had a lasting effect on him, causing him to write his hallmark Democracy in America. For a child raised in the politically tumultuous country of revolutionary France, this expansive volume was the result of his fascination with our government and its founding.
His research and observations uncovered many things about our young country, not the least of which was his realization that a belief in God played a very critical role in its birth. "The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds," he wrote, "that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other."
Yet Alexis also had a warning:
Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. How is it possible that society should escape destruction if the moral tie is not strengthened in proportion as the political tie is relaxed? And what can be done with a people who are their own masters if they are not submissive to the Deity?
His research and observations uncovered many things about our young country, not the least of which was his realization that a belief in God played a very critical role in its birth. "The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds," he wrote, "that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other."
Yet Alexis also had a warning:
Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. How is it possible that society should escape destruction if the moral tie is not strengthened in proportion as the political tie is relaxed? And what can be done with a people who are their own masters if they are not submissive to the Deity?
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Are Earthquakes Good? You Bet!!
I have read Chapter 9, of Rare Earth by Ward and Brownlee, “The Surprising Importance of Plate Tectonics” to try to understand why we have earthquakes and whether they do any good as far as life on earth is concerned.
Actually, I find that the phenomena of plate tectonics is very important to the development and maintenance of life on earth!
The earth has a core of solid iron, but the outer part of the core is liquid iron heated above the melting point by radioactive isotope degeneration. Outside of that is a vast amount of liquid magma, which we know as basalt. Convection currents in this liquid, overheated, basalt cause the hottest parts to rise to the surface where it cools and becomes more dense or actually solidifies. Then, the more dense basalt sinks into the earth causing movement of the liquid and convection currents. The rising and sinking of basalt is called “subduction.” This “boiling” motion causes movement in the thin, outer crust of the earth, and huge chunks move around much as a scum of congealed liquid might move about in a pot boiling on the kitchen stove. The movement of these crustal elements is what geologists call “plate tectonics.” These moving plates colliding with one another are the cause of earthquakes. The collisions cause the rise of parts of the earth’s crust and the formation of continents and linear mountain ranges. Without plate tectonics, we would not have any dry land on earth.
As the hot basalt rises to the surface of the earth, it sometimes breaks forth into the atmosphere causing volcanoes. These volcanoes occur dozens of times every year; and they usually do not do any harm; but they receive lots of media coverage. A volcano discharges huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; and are the main sources of greenhouse gasses that allow the maintenance of warmth from the sun to remain on our earth—without this CO², the earth would be a frigid, frozen, place, where life would be impossible. Volcanoes are the primary source of greenhouse gasses on the earth.
As the earth spins, and the inner core of solid and liquid iron lags behind the spin of the earth, a magnetic field is created around the planet. This magnetic field protects the earth from the bombardment of vast numbers of subatomic particles that are racing through outer space. The particles are electrons, protons, and helium nuclei that emanate from the sun and from star explosions in distant areas of the universe. These particles would kill off all life on earth if they were not prevented from doing that by earth’s magnetic field.
The movement of tectonic plates also contributes to the growth of bacteria in the oceans of the planet. This happens because of the recycling of nutrients into the oceans of the planet—these nutrients are necessary for the growth of microscopic life forms. Bacteria and other microorganisms are the source of oxygen in our atmosphere which allow the development and growth of complex animal life. We are indebted to plate tectonics for the presence of an oxygen-rich atmosphere, which allows and facilitates the animal life on this planet.
WE COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT EARTHQUAKES!!
Actually, I find that the phenomena of plate tectonics is very important to the development and maintenance of life on earth!
The earth has a core of solid iron, but the outer part of the core is liquid iron heated above the melting point by radioactive isotope degeneration. Outside of that is a vast amount of liquid magma, which we know as basalt. Convection currents in this liquid, overheated, basalt cause the hottest parts to rise to the surface where it cools and becomes more dense or actually solidifies. Then, the more dense basalt sinks into the earth causing movement of the liquid and convection currents. The rising and sinking of basalt is called “subduction.” This “boiling” motion causes movement in the thin, outer crust of the earth, and huge chunks move around much as a scum of congealed liquid might move about in a pot boiling on the kitchen stove. The movement of these crustal elements is what geologists call “plate tectonics.” These moving plates colliding with one another are the cause of earthquakes. The collisions cause the rise of parts of the earth’s crust and the formation of continents and linear mountain ranges. Without plate tectonics, we would not have any dry land on earth.
As the hot basalt rises to the surface of the earth, it sometimes breaks forth into the atmosphere causing volcanoes. These volcanoes occur dozens of times every year; and they usually do not do any harm; but they receive lots of media coverage. A volcano discharges huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; and are the main sources of greenhouse gasses that allow the maintenance of warmth from the sun to remain on our earth—without this CO², the earth would be a frigid, frozen, place, where life would be impossible. Volcanoes are the primary source of greenhouse gasses on the earth.
As the earth spins, and the inner core of solid and liquid iron lags behind the spin of the earth, a magnetic field is created around the planet. This magnetic field protects the earth from the bombardment of vast numbers of subatomic particles that are racing through outer space. The particles are electrons, protons, and helium nuclei that emanate from the sun and from star explosions in distant areas of the universe. These particles would kill off all life on earth if they were not prevented from doing that by earth’s magnetic field.
The movement of tectonic plates also contributes to the growth of bacteria in the oceans of the planet. This happens because of the recycling of nutrients into the oceans of the planet—these nutrients are necessary for the growth of microscopic life forms. Bacteria and other microorganisms are the source of oxygen in our atmosphere which allow the development and growth of complex animal life. We are indebted to plate tectonics for the presence of an oxygen-rich atmosphere, which allows and facilitates the animal life on this planet.
WE COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT EARTHQUAKES!!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Pro-Life Democrat? An Oxymoron!
When Rep. Bart Stupak (D., Mich.) caved in to Pesident Obama and agreed to vote for the health care bill, he gave up the high ground of his “Pro-Life” stand and did irreparable damage to the cause of life in this country. Rep. Stupak agreed to lead his band of six supposedly Pro-Life Democrat congressmen to the drum beat of the Democrat majority in the House. The six agreed to vote for the pro-abortion health care bill if President Obama would agree to make an executive order to prohibit abortions in Federally funded community health centers.
This ploy by pro-abortion Democrats is a farce. It will never prevent abortions for the following reason. All that will be necessary for this executive order to be rescinded is for NARL Pro-Choice America to sponsor a woman demanding an abortion to apply at a community health center. Her request will be initially denied because of the executive order; then the woman will sue the center arguing that abortion is a part of health care. Given the legal precedents and the lack of a specific ban in the actual legislation, the courts will likely agree, and the executive order will be declared null and void.
Planned Parenthood and even the radical pro-abortion Representative, Dianna DeGette of Colorado are in favor to this false promise of the Democrat leadership of the House. Their obvious reason is that they know that they have won even one more legislative victory for more and more abortions in our country.
Well…we will live and learn, I suppose. Never trust a Democrat who claims to be Pro-Life!
This ploy by pro-abortion Democrats is a farce. It will never prevent abortions for the following reason. All that will be necessary for this executive order to be rescinded is for NARL Pro-Choice America to sponsor a woman demanding an abortion to apply at a community health center. Her request will be initially denied because of the executive order; then the woman will sue the center arguing that abortion is a part of health care. Given the legal precedents and the lack of a specific ban in the actual legislation, the courts will likely agree, and the executive order will be declared null and void.
Planned Parenthood and even the radical pro-abortion Representative, Dianna DeGette of Colorado are in favor to this false promise of the Democrat leadership of the House. Their obvious reason is that they know that they have won even one more legislative victory for more and more abortions in our country.
Well…we will live and learn, I suppose. Never trust a Democrat who claims to be Pro-Life!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
SAVE THE UIGHURS
The Uighurs are a tribe of Turkik, Muslim, people who live in East Turkestan (also known as the Uighur Autonomous Region); and for decades they have been the victims of systematic human-rights abuses at the hands of the Chinese government.
In November, 20 Uighurs, including two children, escaped their homeland and sought asylum in Cambodia. Initially, the Cambodian Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that it would cooperate with them and offer them asylum. However, two days later, these poor people were declared “illegal entrants,” handcuffed, and detained. On 19 December 2009, a Chinese plane, under cover of darkness, departed the Phenom Penh airport carrying the 20 escapees back to China, where they will undoubtedly be mistreated severely, as former escapees from that country have been treated. Chinese practice has been to declare such persons criminals without any proof of that charge.
Why did this happen? Cambodia is the recipient of hundreds of millions of dollars of aid from China and $1 billion in foreign direct investment from China. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has called China Cambodia’s “most trustworthy friend.”
Hmmm...! I wonder, could this deportation of 20 Uighurs be due to a bribe? Let us remember that as these poor people are abused unjustly, so are we, fellow members of the human race.
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of your friends or of your own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” John Donne 1572-1631
In November, 20 Uighurs, including two children, escaped their homeland and sought asylum in Cambodia. Initially, the Cambodian Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that it would cooperate with them and offer them asylum. However, two days later, these poor people were declared “illegal entrants,” handcuffed, and detained. On 19 December 2009, a Chinese plane, under cover of darkness, departed the Phenom Penh airport carrying the 20 escapees back to China, where they will undoubtedly be mistreated severely, as former escapees from that country have been treated. Chinese practice has been to declare such persons criminals without any proof of that charge.
Why did this happen? Cambodia is the recipient of hundreds of millions of dollars of aid from China and $1 billion in foreign direct investment from China. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has called China Cambodia’s “most trustworthy friend.”
Hmmm...! I wonder, could this deportation of 20 Uighurs be due to a bribe? Let us remember that as these poor people are abused unjustly, so are we, fellow members of the human race.
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of your friends or of your own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” John Donne 1572-1631
Saturday, March 6, 2010
DOES ABORTION REALLY HURT WOMEN?
YES! It most certainly does. There are six ways in which abortion injures the female sex:
First, with abortion easily and readily available, as well as socially acceptable, it is easier than ever for men to exploit women. Men do not have to live with the decision to abort—women do. Women are ultimately responsible for killing the innocent life within them; and they do not take failure of that responsibility lightly.
Second, abortion separates women from their reproductive potential. In effect, it de-sexes them. Abortion erodes the natural pride which women enjoy in being able to conceive and bear children—a creative wonder which no man can duplicate.
Third, through abortion, women are being abandoned by a society which has no patience for a problem unique to women—an unplanned pregnancy. The young, pregnant, and unmarried woman is being pushed out of school, the family, the home, and friendship links to go it alone and solve her own problems. Abortion, unlike childbirth, is always a lonely process.
Forth, Instead of helping women to be strong, independent and capable of handling their lives in spite of social prejudices against “problem” pregnancies, the expediency of abortion encourages women to be weak, dependent, and incapable of dealing with unexpected challenges. The pro-choice movement says to the woman, “If you want to be equal to a man, you need to have an operation.” This is a bunch of nonsense!
Fifth, there is a significantly higher incidence of depression in women following an abortion.
Sixth, there are physical complications of abortion including the occasional incidence of infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and possibly breast cancer.
Let us not kid ourselves, abortion is not a simple, uncomplicated little operation similar to ear piercing or vaccination. Abortion hurts women.
First, with abortion easily and readily available, as well as socially acceptable, it is easier than ever for men to exploit women. Men do not have to live with the decision to abort—women do. Women are ultimately responsible for killing the innocent life within them; and they do not take failure of that responsibility lightly.
Second, abortion separates women from their reproductive potential. In effect, it de-sexes them. Abortion erodes the natural pride which women enjoy in being able to conceive and bear children—a creative wonder which no man can duplicate.
Third, through abortion, women are being abandoned by a society which has no patience for a problem unique to women—an unplanned pregnancy. The young, pregnant, and unmarried woman is being pushed out of school, the family, the home, and friendship links to go it alone and solve her own problems. Abortion, unlike childbirth, is always a lonely process.
Forth, Instead of helping women to be strong, independent and capable of handling their lives in spite of social prejudices against “problem” pregnancies, the expediency of abortion encourages women to be weak, dependent, and incapable of dealing with unexpected challenges. The pro-choice movement says to the woman, “If you want to be equal to a man, you need to have an operation.” This is a bunch of nonsense!
Fifth, there is a significantly higher incidence of depression in women following an abortion.
Sixth, there are physical complications of abortion including the occasional incidence of infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and possibly breast cancer.
Let us not kid ourselves, abortion is not a simple, uncomplicated little operation similar to ear piercing or vaccination. Abortion hurts women.
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