It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ! For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.
Don’t believe me? Just read Sec. 1233, Pg 425-426, Lines 22-25, 1-3 from the ‘ObamaCare Plan’ (HR 3200).
But guess what?
Although Congress is trying so very hard to shove this [crap] down our throats …
members of Congress will be exempt from being forced into this plan. Long story short? Our pals on Capital Hill will have a better plan which gives them the freedom all of us will be denied.
Now, isn’t that lovely...
For a “sneak peak” of this marvelous plan here’s a few excerpts to ponder upon:
• Sec. 123, Pg 30 - THERE WILL BE A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE deciding what treatments and benefits you get.
• Sec. 152, Pg 50-51 - HC will be provided to ALL NON-US citizens.
• Sec. 163, Pg 58-59 beginning at line 5 - government will have real-time access to individual’s finances & a National ID Health care card will be issued! • Sec. 163, Pg 59, lines 21-24 - government will have direct access to your banks accounts for electronic funds transfer. • Sec. 164, Pg 65 is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in unions & community organizations (ACORN). • Sec. 201, Pg 72, Lines 8-14 - government is creating an HC Exchange to bring private plans under government control.
• Sec. 203, Pg 85, Line 7 - Specifications of benefit levels for plans means that the government will define your HC plan and has the ability to ration your healthcare! • Sec. 205, Pg 95, Lines 8-18 - The government will use groups (i.e., ACORN & AmeriCorps) to “inform and educate” (sign up) individuals for government plan.
• Sec. 312, Pg 145, Line 15-17 - Employers MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan.
Now there’s lot’s more but have you had enough yet? Blood boiling yet? Some yes… some no, huh? Okay, let’s include a few more for the “fence-sitters”.
• Sec.59B, Pg 170 Lines, 1 - Any NONRESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay for their healthcare.) • Sec. 431, Pg 195, Lines 1-3 - Officers and employees of HC Administration (government) will have access to ALL Americans financial and personal records. • Sec. 441, Pg 203, Lines 14-15 - “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax” – mmm.. says a lot, ‘ya think?
• Sec. 1145, Pg 272 - Treatment of certain cancer hospitals: Cancer patients and their treatment are open to rationing!
There’s more, folks, much more. For those who desire to read the entire bill click here.
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It’s time for America to stand firmly together in complete solidarity and tell the turkeys on Capital Hill:
This evening, I sit in the stillness of the evening still in shock that my dad is dying. Although to many, he’s “a silly old man of 86” his heyday proved him to be a strong, loving father.
He was my daddy; the man who could do anything and never complained. He protected me and taught me what mattered most in life.
It was “this silly old man” who taught me about unconditional love.
It was “this silly old man” who taught me about integrity.
It was “this silly old man” who taught me about God.
By profession, he was a cop and a darn good one. His shield number was 506 and everyone on “his beat” loved Jack. He was a fair cop but, Lord, did he love to lecture the kids who got in trouble. The joke of the time was that many would have preferred to be locked up rather than have to listen to my dad’s lectures. Those lectures never changed and would go on for hours…
He sleeps a lot now; the cancer has spread and he’s bleeding internally. I decide [for him] to have his remaining days at home without any surgery or chemo. Why bother? Let him be comfortable but I’m frustrated because there are no programs at present that can offer us help – he’s “not weak enough” and, he makes too much money.
Too much money? All his money is going out to nurses and the things he needs.
I am not sure how we will care for my dad; since the loss of my husband’s business our money is depleted, I’m exhausted beyond belief and am behind in everything. I cry out in anger to the Lord; then I just cry. I am not seeing a way…
Then I sense these words: “Nothing is impossible with God.”
I open my bible and immediately read, “The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have favor with God. An now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you will name him Jesus”… May said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:30-31, 34-37)
I repeat, “Nothing will be impossible with God” and, immediately, I am comforted.
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The very mission of Jesus was rooted in the impossible from the moment of his conception in Mary’s womb. He was fully human but not merely fully human. He was the eternal Word of God become flesh in our midst. He knew hunger, thirst and fatigue, but He restored sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf and raised the dead to life. He did what was humanly impossible because as the Son of God He shared in God’s power.
Jesus not only did the impossible but asked the impossible as well. He healed the sick and told His followers to do likewise. He walked on water and invited Peter to join Him. He wasn’t teaching Peter a better way to cross the lake, but, rather, challenging his faith – his willingness to follow Jesus wherever he might beckon, however impossible that might seem.
Jesus asks that we imitate Him. But how can we love with His totally self-sacrificing love, if we do not in some sense become Him? Paul could boldly state, “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Yet such a transformation seems to be beyond us. It seems no more possible for Jesus to be born in us than it seemed possible to Mary for Him to be conceived in her. Even if we are willing to let Christ live in us, we know how stubbornly our self-will clings to life and how desperately it resists relinquishing itself for another. We know what Jesus is asking us to do, but nevertheless always ask, “Lord, how can this be?”
The answer we always receive is, “What is impossible for you is possible for God.”
When Peter began to doubt that he could safely walk on water and began to sink, Jesus rebuked him for his lack of faith. When a man full of both hope and doubt brought his afflicted son to Jesus to be cured, Jesus demanded faith of him, telling him, “All things can be done for the one who believes.” The man replied with a cry that many of us prayed ourselves, I believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24).
And when the disciples asked why they weren’t able to cast out a demon, Jesus answered that it was because they had so little faith: “Truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you: (Matthew 17:20).
The faith to move mountains, to many of us, seems to be a level of faith far beyond us. And we are right. Our faith, however, in cooperation with God’s power, is itself a gift from Him. God wants to give each of us the gift of faith so that the impossible might be done in our lives. He wants to overshadow us with His Holy Spirit so that Christ will live in us – a miracle far greater than moving mountains.
I understand now and will find a way through Him.
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The following video, Ana Laura – Completely, courtesy of You Tube.
This Advent Season, I feel the urgency to gather prayers for an amazing, God-filled woman, Lori, who is battling breast cancer; what better gift to have bestowed upon her and her family this Christmas Season than the gift of healing?
I encourage each of you to acquaint yourselves with Lori's courageous spirit of love by visiting her blog: http://lorimoon.com/
I humbly [and boldly] ask all whom happen upon this post to join me in prayer for Lori’s healing:
Jesus, Master Physician of all times, Your Divinity did not require a Ph.D. Eagerly, You resurrected the dead, Restoring the health of the sick. Be it physical or spiritual torment, None were a great obstacle to You: For Your loving power is omnipotent.
Oh, Lord, who are the only source of health and healing, the spirit of calm and the central peace of this universe, grant to Lori such a consciousness of your indwelling and surrounding presence that she may permit you to give her health and strength and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I request also that this "prayer-chain" be passed on to others because we know that our Jesus tells us that when two or more are gathered in His Name, He is always present with us.
God bless all of you this Christmas Season.
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Judi Lynn Lake has kept up with leading edge business trends throughout her varied and successful career. She had already had her "15 minutes of fame" over and over again before starting her family. Judi and her family now reside in South Carolina, but, having been born and raised on Long Island, NY, it is clearly evident that she will always be a "New Yorker." Today, she successfully runs her own advertising agency which handles everything from logos, branding and package design while she continues to work closely with self-published authors from design to promotion. For more information, visitjudilake.com
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The following video, Jesus of Nazareth - The Centurion, courtesy of You Tube.
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The following video, All things are possible - Hillsong, courtesy of You Tube.
Life, with its glories, indignities, hopes and quiet dreams, is the subject of the beloved song, “But the World Goes Round," by John Kander and Fred Ebb.
Similar to the song, no matter how bleak life seems at the moment, life can change instantly. In my own short lifetime, I have experienced many ‘miracles’ that have always given me hope in my ‘darkest hour’.
These ‘miracles’ have also given me faith.
For me, 1990 was my ‘big year’. I was 32 years old and an Art Director within the Music Industry. Life was hectic, exciting and immersed with relentless deadlines. I was dedicated and adapted easily to catnaps, which is probably why, to this day, I continue ‘to burn the midnight oil’.
The 1990s Music Awards were to be spectacular. The swing in music was shifting and I was given complete carte blanche as its Creative Director. Each presentation submitted was approved with fervor and praise. We were a passionate group with a mission for excellence. Fully aware that ‘you are only as good as your team,’ I was grateful for my exceptionally talented art department.
This was going to be ‘the year’ for The Music Awards.
Midway into the project, the Vice President, Diane, called me aside. “Judi, are you feeling alright? You look white as a ghost!"
“Oh, Diane, you know how it is this time of the year; it’s crazy and I can’t remember the last time I actually had a full night’s sleep. Don’t worry, I’m fine."
“Well, I am worried. I never use rank with you, but as a mother, I am telling you to go home and rest. The art department has all of your comps and whatever need’s your approval can be done by fax."
“No, Diane, we are almost done! I promise, once everything is completed, I will take a few days off, but not now, pl-e-e-eaze…." My eyes pleaded with her to let me stay. Diane shook her head as she walked away from me. From the distance, I heard her mumble, “She has got to be the most stubborn person I have ever met!"
I laughed as I responded, “Yeah, yeah, Diane, and that’s why you pay me so well!"
Diane was perceptive because I was not well and I knew it. For the past month, I had been bleeding ceaselessly and was extremely weak. I was concerned but decided to take "the Scarlett O'Hara" approach and ‘worry about it tomorrow’. I could not afford to get sick and my only focus was on finishing this project.
God had other plans for me, however. Three days before the Music Award’s ceremony, I was found lying on the floor in my office and unconscious.
With a pounding headache and needles in my arms, I awoke in a bed at the Long Island Jewish Hospital. Focusing my eyes, the first person I saw was my mother. Once our eyes met, I knew the prognosis was not good.
I had cancer and the doctors wanted to perform an immediate hysterectomy on me. I was a ‘DES’ baby and cervical cancer is common with all DES females.
I was overwhelmed but would not give my consent for anything until I prayed with someone and, that someone had to be my dear friend, Fr. Bob.
Ironically, as Fr. Bob and I spoke, my concern was not with myself but, rather, with my mother. I loved my mother with all of my heart and didn't want her to suffer through my illness. As Fr. Bob administered Holy Communion to me, I instantly felt soothing warmth fill me from head to toe. I began to cry and was immediately conscious of the Lord’s presence. I felt His love and somehow, I knew I was cleansed and healed.
Without saying a word, both Fr. Bob and I were fully aware of what happened. I calmly told him that I would not need surgery and that I was all right. The Lord is mightier than man.
The doctors tried to persuade me for surgery, but my faith knew what man could not know. My faith also knew, contrary to what the doctors had told me, that, one day, I would indeed be a mother.
Ten years later, and cancer free, I gave birth to a healthy 8-1/2 pound healthy baby girl. Stubbornly, I packed my little angel in the car and drove to the hospital where I was diagnosed with cancer ten years previously.
As Dr. Berkowitz was holding ‘my miracle baby’, I calmly told him what I had heard many, many years ago as a child:
“For those who believe in God, no explanation is needed; for those who do not believe in God, no explanation is possible."
Judi Lynn Lake has kept up with leading edge business trends throughout her varied and successful career. She had already had her "15 minutes of fame" over and over again before starting her family. Judi and her family now reside in South Carolina, but, having been born and raised on Long Island, NY, it is clearly evident that she will always be a "New Yorker." Today, she successfully runs her own advertising agency which handles everything from logos, branding and package design while she continues to work closely with self-published authors from design to promotion. For more information, visitjudilake.com
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The following video, "Holy Is His Name", by John Michael Talbot courtesy of You Tube.
Life As It Happens was created to be a "safe-haven" for all Christians to share "life as it happens." If anyone is interested in being a "guest author" on this blog, feel free to e-mail me at judi@judilake.com. Please be advised that all material is subject for approval.
to stand firmly together in complete solidarity and tell the turkeys on Capital Hill:
