It has been my experience there are few actions that cause more damage to relationships than gossip. Gossip is an insidious evil perpetrated with "the best intentions". Born of pride and a judgemental spirit, gossip maligns, cripples, wounds and devastates even the most stable relationships.
Gossip is handed down through generations; children being terribly mis-shaped by parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends and neighbors; gossips raise gossips.
Gossip kills friendships. Gossip destroys marriages. Gossip divides churches.
"I heard" begins a common gossip session. Some gossip in the name of "prayer", some in the name of "helping", some as "warnings" to others, but it all starts and ends the same way; "I heard...", "she said...", "I wonder...", "he said...", "have you heard...". Pride pushes gossip through otherwise seemingly innocent lips and into the ears of all close by. Gossip is always repeated. There are always victims of gossip. Gossip is ugly. Words spoken may not be taken back; the damage is done.
In the restaurant business we were watchful for damaging comments. It was an industry standard that a negative comment about a restaurant would be repeated up to 30 times before dying out. "I heard that the food was not good", "I heard that the service was terrible", "I heard that the prices were too high", "I heard", "I heard", "I heard". In contrast, positive comments were held to be repeated only up to 10 times. Gossip kills businesses, gossip distorts perception, gossip does not give some a chance.
Gossip makes people cry, causes sleepless nights, hardens hearts. Gossip may be wrathful, vengeful, purposeful, stabbing. Gossip is never innocent.
Psalm 141:3 "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips."
I confess that I have gossiped; I have participated in hurtful discussion concerning others, so have you. I have maligned others through anger or selfish desire to lift myself up; I suspect you have as well. We don't always set out to gossip, purpose to hurt or intend to tear down, but the damage is always the same, purposeful or not.
Psalm 15:1-3 "(A psalm by David.) Who may stay in God's temple or live on the holy mountain of the LORD? Only those who obey God and do as they should. They speak the truth and don't spread gossip; they treat others fairly and don't say cruel things."
I have been grievously wounded by gossip, some purposeful, some not malicious, but scarring nonetheless. I suspect each of us can tell a similar tale. Words can cut deeper than any knife.
We must exercise caution when we open our mouths to speak of others, carefully weighing our words and honestly inquiring of ourselves (and our listeners) whether we are speaking in a positive, caring manner.
If we discover that we are not, then let us change our words and our purpose or simply shut up.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf
visit above to review the pending legislation
read the synopsis below sent by a friend:
Please contact your representives and senators, even though you know that they will vote against this bill. The more vocal America can be, the better chance for defeat.
• Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!
• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
• Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)
• Page 42: The "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.
• Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
• Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard.
• Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)
• Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.
• Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)
• Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens
• Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.
• Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.
• Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial review" is permitted against the government monopoly.
Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.
• Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.
• Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.
• Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.
• Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll
• Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll
• Page 167: Any individual who doesn’t' have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.
• Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).
• Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.
• Page 203: "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax." Yes, it really says that.
• Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors and the poor most affected."
• Page 241: Doctors: no matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the same (thanks, AMA!)
• Page 253: Government sets value of doctors' time, their professional judgment, etc.
• Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries.
• Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.
• Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing!
• Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.
• Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.
• Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited for owning and investing in healthcare companies!
• Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.
• Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on "community" input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN.
• Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing.
• Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc.
• Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
• Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone).
• Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?
• Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.
• Page 425: Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.
• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.
• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient's health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.
• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.
• Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marriage.
• Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing those services."
visit above to review the pending legislation
read the synopsis below sent by a friend:
Please contact your representives and senators, even though you know that they will vote against this bill. The more vocal America can be, the better chance for defeat.
• Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!
• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
• Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)
• Page 42: The "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.
• Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
• Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard.
• Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)
• Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.
• Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)
• Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens
• Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.
• Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.
• Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial review" is permitted against the government monopoly.
Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.
• Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.
• Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.
• Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.
• Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll
• Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll
• Page 167: Any individual who doesn’t' have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.
• Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).
• Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.
• Page 203: "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax." Yes, it really says that.
• Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors and the poor most affected."
• Page 241: Doctors: no matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the same (thanks, AMA!)
• Page 253: Government sets value of doctors' time, their professional judgment, etc.
• Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries.
• Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.
• Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing!
• Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.
• Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.
• Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited for owning and investing in healthcare companies!
• Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.
• Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on "community" input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN.
• Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing.
• Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc.
• Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
• Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone).
• Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?
• Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.
• Page 425: Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.
• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.
• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient's health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.
• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.
• Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marriage.
• Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing those services."
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
"Many Christians think that victory over sin means that they'll no longer be tempted. Or they think that God will change their nature so that they'll no longer desire to do evil. Either way, they're wrong. Temptation isn't sin; it's a call to battle." ~ Erwin Lutzer in "Getting To No"
Men Of Integrity
Men Of Integrity
Sunday, July 12, 2009
are you an extremist?
"While the rest of us may be worried about violent Mexican drug gangs on our border or about terrorists who are going to be released from Guantanamo, the director of Homeland Security is worried about “right-wing extremists.”
Just who are these right-wing extremists?
According to an official document of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, right-wing extremists include “groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.” It also includes those “rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority.”"
read the article "Are you an ‘extremist?’"
Just who are these right-wing extremists?
According to an official document of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, right-wing extremists include “groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.” It also includes those “rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority.”"
read the article "Are you an ‘extremist?’"
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
the Word
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
The Word is Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Christ, Messiah, Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He has always been there for us, is with us now and shall remain with us to the end. He waits for each of us to know Him, to accept Him and to enjoy His company.
Enjoy the Word.
www.standontherock.org
All bible verses are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), courtesy of The Lockman Foundation.
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
The Word is Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Christ, Messiah, Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He has always been there for us, is with us now and shall remain with us to the end. He waits for each of us to know Him, to accept Him and to enjoy His company.
Enjoy the Word.
www.standontherock.org
All bible verses are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), courtesy of The Lockman Foundation.
a snowball's chance
We are no longer on the brink of madness, we have found empty air beneath our feet.
Homosexual mayors, comedian senators, movie star governors and a ruling class in Washington with no grasp of reality have led us like lemmings to the edge and over.
We can blame no one but ourselves; we have enabled the madness, in our apathy, in our quest for stuff, in our desire to be fed as needy hatchlings, mouths open and squawking for the worm.
We have a President, who by all norms of logic, should not have been elected dog catcher, much, much less to the seat of global power. A no account, inexperienced, untested and untried, "nobody" has become the President of these United States and in that accomplishment, our future has been foretold.
We have become madness itself.
Frothing Nancy Graces and Jerry Springers captivate us of with their ghoul like ability to elevate pain, degradation and suffering to the heights of entertainment that make celebrities of felons, murderers, child molesters, pedophiles, adulterers and monsters of society.
Hell has frozen over, the fat lady has sung, the anthem has played for the last time and we are staring at the test pattern.
The foundations of our society have imploded and our structures are falling. We are Rome.
Foot thick unread bills are passed in Washington by a hysterical ruling body because someone has proclaimed the sky to be falling and, without looking up, we have followed the sound of the piper.
Our collective cord has unraveled. We are undone.
Distracted by rapidly rising gas and food prices and a falsely stated economy, the hook sunk deep into the flesh, we were reeled in by the powers that be, by "them", by those who would have their way with us. We searched for and found a false hope. We grasped at nothing and found it.
Our society legislates pornography and celebrates sodomy, we decry "murder" and kill millions of unborn children annually, we diversify and tolerate to the point of mass stupidity. Our public schools are the joke of the world but we continue to allow the same failing organizations and governmental bodies to dictate school policy and methodology.
In our apathy and self indulgence, our mass willingness to "let someone else do it" and our careless disregard of the Constitution we have enabled a ruling class of representatives to do nothing of the sort. They do not represent us, instead representing their own self interests and the strengthening and propogation of the party.
It is well past midnight, we are tucked "safely" in our beds with a blind hope that tomorrow will be, not better, but more of the same; because we are satisfied.
Howard Beale was right.
Homosexual mayors, comedian senators, movie star governors and a ruling class in Washington with no grasp of reality have led us like lemmings to the edge and over.
We can blame no one but ourselves; we have enabled the madness, in our apathy, in our quest for stuff, in our desire to be fed as needy hatchlings, mouths open and squawking for the worm.
We have a President, who by all norms of logic, should not have been elected dog catcher, much, much less to the seat of global power. A no account, inexperienced, untested and untried, "nobody" has become the President of these United States and in that accomplishment, our future has been foretold.
We have become madness itself.
Frothing Nancy Graces and Jerry Springers captivate us of with their ghoul like ability to elevate pain, degradation and suffering to the heights of entertainment that make celebrities of felons, murderers, child molesters, pedophiles, adulterers and monsters of society.
Hell has frozen over, the fat lady has sung, the anthem has played for the last time and we are staring at the test pattern.
The foundations of our society have imploded and our structures are falling. We are Rome.
Foot thick unread bills are passed in Washington by a hysterical ruling body because someone has proclaimed the sky to be falling and, without looking up, we have followed the sound of the piper.
Our collective cord has unraveled. We are undone.
Distracted by rapidly rising gas and food prices and a falsely stated economy, the hook sunk deep into the flesh, we were reeled in by the powers that be, by "them", by those who would have their way with us. We searched for and found a false hope. We grasped at nothing and found it.
Our society legislates pornography and celebrates sodomy, we decry "murder" and kill millions of unborn children annually, we diversify and tolerate to the point of mass stupidity. Our public schools are the joke of the world but we continue to allow the same failing organizations and governmental bodies to dictate school policy and methodology.
In our apathy and self indulgence, our mass willingness to "let someone else do it" and our careless disregard of the Constitution we have enabled a ruling class of representatives to do nothing of the sort. They do not represent us, instead representing their own self interests and the strengthening and propogation of the party.
It is well past midnight, we are tucked "safely" in our beds with a blind hope that tomorrow will be, not better, but more of the same; because we are satisfied.
Howard Beale was right.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
michael jackson's death
I've been asked if I plan on blogging about Michael Jackson's death; I suppose this counts.
Michael Jackson's death warrants little comment above the plethora in the press. He was a celebrity, a talented artist and, during the course of his life, affected many people with his music. His life appeared to have been be a constant quest for changing who he was born to be into some fantastic idea of what he thought he should have been.
As with all of us, here was someone who needed God's firm guiding hand in his life.
www.standontherock.org
Michael Jackson's death warrants little comment above the plethora in the press. He was a celebrity, a talented artist and, during the course of his life, affected many people with his music. His life appeared to have been be a constant quest for changing who he was born to be into some fantastic idea of what he thought he should have been.
As with all of us, here was someone who needed God's firm guiding hand in his life.
www.standontherock.org
"Obama has no black experience"
"A conservative black pastor and former NFL linebacker says he's highly offended that President Obama would compare the plight of homosexuals to that of blacks during the Civil Rights Era.
On Monday, President Obama told a gathering of homosexuals at the White House that he is aware that many of them "don't believe progress has come fast enough," and compared their struggles to those of blacks during the Civil Rights Movement."
Pastor: Obama has no 'black experience' to speak of
Zogby International
On Monday, President Obama told a gathering of homosexuals at the White House that he is aware that many of them "don't believe progress has come fast enough," and compared their struggles to those of blacks during the Civil Rights Movement."
Pastor: Obama has no 'black experience' to speak of
Zogby International
Friday, July 03, 2009
a lot can change in 5 years
I was cleaning off a batch of old hard drives and I found this text file on one of them:
--------------- begin text ---------------
Subject: Thank you for your offer!
Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 5:37 AM
Thank you for your offer!
Experience tells me that you probably receive many complaints as a result of doing online advertising, so I just wanted to send you some cheerful greetings and wish you a pleasant day.
I am not interested in your offer at this time, but I would like to extend an offer of prayer back to you. Whether you are a Christian or not, if you have any prayer needs then please let me know and I will forward them to my prayer team.
Prayer is powerful and effective, and we will be happy to pray for any needs you have, just let us know how we can help.
God truly loves you (John 3:16). He knows your name, He knows your situation, and if you are not a Christian then His fervent desire is to adopt you as His child. He would go to great lengths for the joy of having you as part of His family, even to the point of letting His only true Son be executed in your place so that you can be freed of all guilt and burdens. If you have any questions about God or spiritual matters then please send them to me and I will be happy to try to answer them for you.
I look forward to hearing from you, and may God abundantly bless you!
In His Love,
Steve
------------------- end text -----------------------
I appears that 5 years ago I had a heart for prayer and a heart to help other folks. It seems that I would use this text to reply to the plethora of SPAM I received, using the emails as a blessing instead of a curse. I don't remember what kind of responses I received, but I do know that I stopped doing this somewhere along the line, whether due to busyness, apathy, or a heart change only God can tell.
A lot can change in 5 years, in both directions.
I was reminded last night that truly successfull people achieve that success by living their lives for something besides themselves. I remember many happier days and I am reminded that, in those days, I also lived for people and causes outside myself. The formula holds true for each of us. True joy, peace, love, happiness will be found in the cause of others.
Open the door.
--------------- begin text ---------------
Subject: Thank you for your offer!
Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 5:37 AM
Thank you for your offer!
Experience tells me that you probably receive many complaints as a result of doing online advertising, so I just wanted to send you some cheerful greetings and wish you a pleasant day.
I am not interested in your offer at this time, but I would like to extend an offer of prayer back to you. Whether you are a Christian or not, if you have any prayer needs then please let me know and I will forward them to my prayer team.
Prayer is powerful and effective, and we will be happy to pray for any needs you have, just let us know how we can help.
God truly loves you (John 3:16). He knows your name, He knows your situation, and if you are not a Christian then His fervent desire is to adopt you as His child. He would go to great lengths for the joy of having you as part of His family, even to the point of letting His only true Son be executed in your place so that you can be freed of all guilt and burdens. If you have any questions about God or spiritual matters then please send them to me and I will be happy to try to answer them for you.
I look forward to hearing from you, and may God abundantly bless you!
In His Love,
Steve
------------------- end text -----------------------
I appears that 5 years ago I had a heart for prayer and a heart to help other folks. It seems that I would use this text to reply to the plethora of SPAM I received, using the emails as a blessing instead of a curse. I don't remember what kind of responses I received, but I do know that I stopped doing this somewhere along the line, whether due to busyness, apathy, or a heart change only God can tell.
A lot can change in 5 years, in both directions.
I was reminded last night that truly successfull people achieve that success by living their lives for something besides themselves. I remember many happier days and I am reminded that, in those days, I also lived for people and causes outside myself. The formula holds true for each of us. True joy, peace, love, happiness will be found in the cause of others.
Open the door.
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