What started out as a crazy idea has morphed into an even crazier reality.
It all started when I was trying to make plans for summer vacation. We received an invitation for a family reunion in the NW - a mere 2200 miles from where I live. I promptly got online and began to search for airline tickets. When my search resulted in fares that did not drop below $450.00 I decided - why not drive. Now, I knew I did not want to attempt this on my own so I decided to recruit my sister. Her first response, "Are you nuts!" Well, yes a little. Oh, I believe I forgot to mention that between the 2 of us we have 6 kids and we would need to bring them along. And maybe I should mention that we are taking only one 8 passenger vehicle.
After a little research on my part I convinced her that this would be a great memory making adventure, we could do it for about $900.00 each and wouldn't it be fun?! I just had to figure out how to rent a wood panel station wagon.
Once we were in agreement on going I set out to do a little planning. Just a little, because we are driving, we can be spontanious. This is going to be fun.
Here I sit 2 months later, 200 plans later, 7 different driving routes later, 25 different hotel reservations made and canceled later, KNOWING now that I am truly certifiable. If I can not be committed for having the idea in the first place, I should be committed for spending the insane amount of time I have spent working and reworking the plan (because we will have fun DARN IT!) and if neither one of those reasons are good enough for commitment to the crazy house then when, and if, we return from this adventure alive I will surely qualify.
So stay tuned we will keep you updated with pictures, wild stories and fun memories in the making as The Good Doctor's Wife - takes a dose of reality medicine along Route 66 and many other obscure highways.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Our home
It's been almost a month since I have posted - not that I haven't thought about it, and not that I don't have at least half a dozen unfinished blogs. I would like to believe that I am free to write whatever comes off the top of my head but know myself too well - and I must process first - although this is one where I am inspired to just put it down and send it out.
Over the past month our life has been filled with summer activities, swimming and baseball. We bounce from one thing to the next very content to be where we are. I have spent time with my parents, uninterrupted time with my husband, some time with friends, my children and by myself. I have stepped back into the collegiate world and taken a deep breath while I try to determine where to head next. All the while the world moves on around us and we struggle to stay on the path that God desires for us and we search for the road that He would have us take.
Something that has caught our entire family's attention lately is the house next door. Unfortunately, our neighbor came upon some hard times that caused his house to become in disarray and facilitated his moving. As we would speak with him over the fence and offer assistance it was clear that he did not desire the hope that may be found in Christ and believed that God was not watching out for him or that there could be no God that would leave him in this situation. Sadly, this is not a lone view of our heavenly father. All to often here in the U.S.A. if our life is good - we love to take the credit and when life becomes hard we jump to be angry at a God we don't even believe in.
As a mother I struggle to find the words to teach my children of God's truths, I fight to be an example of Christ's love and I am sure that many times they turn a deaf hear to the "preaching" of higher standards. I pray that by the time they leave my home they will have a foundation that is not built on sand but is built on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.
Which brings me back to the house next door - last week we were headed to the movies and in the next door yard sat a HUGE bulldozer - after inquiring we discovered that the house was coming down - with many shouts and yells from the back seat it was quickly decided that
have spent an additional 4 hours finishing. (I am posting pictures of before and after.) Watching this house being reduced rubble has reminded me that we are on this earth for an incredibly short time. That we must live each day as if it is our last and that material things will all be turned to dust in the end. Relationships especially those with others who believe on the name of Jesus Christ will endure forever. We must not get caught up in the day to day of survival but we must joyously live in the day that was created to worship our Heavenly Father.
Make this your day to escape from the trappings that will bury you and live in the joy of simply worshipping our Savior. Share this joy with all those that you come in contact with and you will be blessed.
Our Heavenly Dwelling 2 Corinthians 5
1For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Where did they go?
Recently, I was preparing for a friend's birthday dinner for 16 -(which turned out quite nicely, I believe) in doing so was attempting to set the table. Now, it is not often that I set the table for 16 people, so it is not often that I need to retrieve all my silverware. Knowing that I have silverware for 24, yes 24, I did not think setting a table for 16 would be a difficult task.
I opened up my silverware drawer grabbed the necessary utensils and proceeded to the table. Much to my surprise I did not have enough. Thinking no problem, they are probably in the dishwasher - I emptied the dishwasher and then begin to set the table. Again, still not enough. Now I was not a math major in college but it does not take a genius to figure out that something has happened to a large amount of my silverware.
This missing silverware problem began many years ago around Christmastime. I had my (rather large, in numbers) family over for dinner. Using my best silver, you know the kind you only pull out once or twice a year, I set a very lovely table. At the end of this meal and the clean up - I discovered that one of my silver spoons was missing. I did think this strange but just determined that it was misplaced. That was until the next family meal, and another spoon went missing, and then another, and then a knife. Now I was becoming concerned. Did I have a family member that was slowly increasing their silver collection, did we have a kleptomaniac in our midst, was this going to require an intervention?
Not having my house wired with cameras I was never able to identify the culprit. So I just forgot about it until recently when clearly many of my utensils had disappeared. But now it was not even the good stuff. I mean silverware is not like socks. We don't just take them off wherever we are to have them lost under the couch. We use them in one place they must go in the sink when their job is complete - where do they go?
I contemplated this for about 2 hours, wondering what in the world has happened. Does my dishwasher feed on cheap metal? Do the ants carry them off to use as silver gods to bring them more sugary crumbs. This was very perplexing. I did not have time to contemplate this any further - I had a dinner to give and a party to complete - the mystery of the missing silverware would just have to wait. Although I was going to have to use some of my good silver, which made me a little nervous in light of every time I let them out of their house they seemed to run away.
Party ended, dishes are cleaned up and as I began to put everything away I looked to the center of my everyday eating table, and discovered what you see in the picture.........
Sometimes trying to be efficient can be oh so perplexing! Mystery solved - just remember where you put stuff.
Although I am still missing 3 good spoons and a knife - so if you are reading this and guilt has gotten the best of you just return them and no one will get hurt. (Unfortunately I think they are a casualty of children doing dishes when they are used to using disposable and they have landed in a landfill somewhere)
I opened up my silverware drawer grabbed the necessary utensils and proceeded to the table. Much to my surprise I did not have enough. Thinking no problem, they are probably in the dishwasher - I emptied the dishwasher and then begin to set the table. Again, still not enough. Now I was not a math major in college but it does not take a genius to figure out that something has happened to a large amount of my silverware.
This missing silverware problem began many years ago around Christmastime. I had my (rather large, in numbers) family over for dinner. Using my best silver, you know the kind you only pull out once or twice a year, I set a very lovely table. At the end of this meal and the clean up - I discovered that one of my silver spoons was missing. I did think this strange but just determined that it was misplaced. That was until the next family meal, and another spoon went missing, and then another, and then a knife. Now I was becoming concerned. Did I have a family member that was slowly increasing their silver collection, did we have a kleptomaniac in our midst, was this going to require an intervention?
Not having my house wired with cameras I was never able to identify the culprit. So I just forgot about it until recently when clearly many of my utensils had disappeared. But now it was not even the good stuff. I mean silverware is not like socks. We don't just take them off wherever we are to have them lost under the couch. We use them in one place they must go in the sink when their job is complete - where do they go?
I contemplated this for about 2 hours, wondering what in the world has happened. Does my dishwasher feed on cheap metal? Do the ants carry them off to use as silver gods to bring them more sugary crumbs. This was very perplexing. I did not have time to contemplate this any further - I had a dinner to give and a party to complete - the mystery of the missing silverware would just have to wait. Although I was going to have to use some of my good silver, which made me a little nervous in light of every time I let them out of their house they seemed to run away.
Sometimes trying to be efficient can be oh so perplexing! Mystery solved - just remember where you put stuff.
Although I am still missing 3 good spoons and a knife - so if you are reading this and guilt has gotten the best of you just return them and no one will get hurt. (Unfortunately I think they are a casualty of children doing dishes when they are used to using disposable and they have landed in a landfill somewhere)
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The warrior
"I'll tell you when I shoot you." "I will let you know when I stab you." " O.K. Now come alive!" - these are the comments I hear as I listen to my six-year-old play with the neighbor boys.
There was a time I would have been horrified, embarrassed, and come completely undone to think that my child, my son would actually play like this. Well, 13 years and two boys later ---- boys play like this. It does not matter whether you allow guns in your home or not, or what your stance is on the 2nd amendment. Little and big boys will turn anything into a gun. Did I mention that my 13-year-old son was in the basement playing some shooting wii game with a friend at the same time?
God is training me to train warriors. I can choose to stand in the battle and prepare my sons for the physical and spiritual battles that will come, or I can continue to tell them to put down the weapons and not act on the gifts and talents that God has given them.
Throughout the Bible we see countless examples of warriors, the need for battle and the glory that comes when we battle in the name of the Lord. I can work to understand what God is showing me and train them or I can give into the pacifist mantra of present society that demands, can't we all just get along.
I believe in today's society we are lulled into the belief that if there is no conflict then all is well. If we read closely, the Word, which is given to us, we see that is not really the case. I must as a mother who desires to raise strong Godly sons/men impress upon them the need to understand what it is to battle and to transfer those physical skills into the spiritual reality. I think in today's church society we have a hard time getting down and dirty with the ugly reality of the battle (sin). We have been sold the lie that all is well if you show up on Sunday morning. We are losing our sons to the world that allows them to be strong, encourages them to be passionate and follow their hunter-gatherer instincts. While in church pews we ask them to sit still and be quite.
The gospel breaks our train of thought, shatters our comfortable piety, and cracks open our capsule truths. His sentences stand like quivering swords of flame because He did not come to bring peace, but a revolution. The gospel is not a children's fairy tale, but rather a cutting edge, rolling thunder, convulsive earthquake in the world of human spirit. Brennan Manning-
Join me in the training........
Zechariah 10
The Restoration for Judah and Israel
1Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain, from the LORD who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.2 For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. 3 "My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic steed in battle.4From him shall come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler— all of them together.5They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the LORD is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses. 6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.7Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall be glad as with wine.Their children shall see it and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the LORD.8 "I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as many as they were before.9 Though I scattered them among the nations, yet in far countries they shall remember me, and with their children they shall live and return.10I will bring them home from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria, and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon, till there is no room for them.11 He shall pass through the sea of troubles and strike down the waves of the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up. The pride of Assyria shall be laid low, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart.12 I will make them strong in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name," declares the LORD.
The Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Kitchen helper.......?
I remember it clearly - my family was preparing to move from our home of 7 years. My dad had taken a new position in another town and we were saying our good-byes. As a thank you gift, a group from church went together and purchased for our family our 1st microwave. (the year was 1982) In a family that had 5 permanent children and 19 foster children, I believe they thought my mom could use some help with the food preparation.
The Microwave -a funny invention - something that will cook our food faster and heat our water quicker. There were many a hotdog cooked in our microwaves and my brother was known to cook just about any kind of meat in 2 minutes or less. A childhood memory I could really do without. I am sure somewhere along the way I took a science class that discussed how a microwave works, what was never discussed is what actually occurs to food in the quick heat process. If you are in love with your microwave and can't see life without it stop reading now.
The following is a summary of the Russian investigations published by the Atlantis Raising Educational Center in Portland, Oregon. Carcinogens were formed in virtually all foods tested. No test food was subjected to more microwaving than necessary to accomplish the purpose, i.e., cooking, thawing, or heating to insure sanitary ingestion. Here's a summary of some of the results:
"It's [Microwave sickness] first signs are low blood pressure and slow pulse. The later and most common manifestations are chronic excitation of the sympathetic nervous system [stress syndrome] and high blood pressure. This phase also often includes headache, dizziness, eye pain, sleeplessness, irritability, anxiety, stomach pain, nervous tension, inability to concentrate, hair loss, plus an increased incidence of appendicitis, cataracts, reproductive problems, and cancer. The chronic symptoms are eventually succeeded by crisis of adrenal exhaustion and ischemic heart disease [the blockage of coronary arteries and heart attacks]."
According to Dr. Lee, changes are observed in the blood chemistries and the rates of certain diseases among consumers of microwaved foods. The symptoms above can easily be caused by the observations shown below. The following is a sample of these changes:
From the conclusions of the Swiss, Russian and German scientific clinical studies, we can no longer ignore the microwave oven sitting in our kitchens. Based on this research, we will conclude this article with the following:
1). Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term - permanent - brain damage by "shorting out" electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].
2). The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.
3). Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.
4). The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.
5). Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.
6). The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.
7). Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This may explain the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in America.
8). The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.
9). Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.
10). Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.
end of article
In the fast paced, I need it now society, we have become accustomed to the quick fix. Walk through any grocery store aisle and most items are packaged and designed for a quick, "wholesome" meal. We need to question a little stronger what wholesome looks like and what we are actually ingesting.
If you google microwave cooking you will receive this information and then many other sites that will completely disagree. My instincts tell me that local farming, fresh whole foods and traditional farming and cooking methods are best for health. I know that we are all really busy and that sometimes we just don't have the time. Recently, we have begun using our toaster oven (a favorite heating source during the Texas summers) and the stove top. I have found that the time it takes to heat or reheat food in this manner seldom is longer than the microwave. In addition, the food does taste better.
As we strive towards the goal of better health I may have to rid myself of some technologies I thought were helping me and rediscover that a little extra time may go a long way in aiding my family's long-term health.
The Microwave -a funny invention - something that will cook our food faster and heat our water quicker. There were many a hotdog cooked in our microwaves and my brother was known to cook just about any kind of meat in 2 minutes or less. A childhood memory I could really do without. I am sure somewhere along the way I took a science class that discussed how a microwave works, what was never discussed is what actually occurs to food in the quick heat process. If you are in love with your microwave and can't see life without it stop reading now.
The following is a summary of the Russian investigations published by the Atlantis Raising Educational Center in Portland, Oregon. Carcinogens were formed in virtually all foods tested. No test food was subjected to more microwaving than necessary to accomplish the purpose, i.e., cooking, thawing, or heating to insure sanitary ingestion. Here's a summary of some of the results:
- Microwaving prepared meats sufficiently to insure sanitary ingestion caused formation of d-Nitrosodienthanolamines, a well-known carcinogen.
- Microwaving milk and cereal grains converted some of their amino acids into carcinogens.
- Thawing frozen fruits converted their glucoside and galactoside containing fractions into carcinogenic substances.
- Extremely short exposure of raw, cooked or frozen vegetables converted their plant alkaloids into carcinogens.
- Carcinogenic free radicals were formed in microwaved plants, especially root vegetables.
- Decrease in nutritional value
- Deceased bio-availability of vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, essential minerals and lipotropics factors in all food tested.
- Various kinds of damaged to many plant substances, such as alkaloids, glucosides, galactosides and nitrilosides.
- The degradation of nucleo-proteins in meats.
"It's [Microwave sickness] first signs are low blood pressure and slow pulse. The later and most common manifestations are chronic excitation of the sympathetic nervous system [stress syndrome] and high blood pressure. This phase also often includes headache, dizziness, eye pain, sleeplessness, irritability, anxiety, stomach pain, nervous tension, inability to concentrate, hair loss, plus an increased incidence of appendicitis, cataracts, reproductive problems, and cancer. The chronic symptoms are eventually succeeded by crisis of adrenal exhaustion and ischemic heart disease [the blockage of coronary arteries and heart attacks]."
According to Dr. Lee, changes are observed in the blood chemistries and the rates of certain diseases among consumers of microwaved foods. The symptoms above can easily be caused by the observations shown below. The following is a sample of these changes:
- Lymphatic disorders were observed, leading to decreased ability to prevent certain types of cancers.
- An increased rate of cancer cell formation was observed in the blood.
- Increased rates of stomach and intestinal cancers were observed.
- Higher rates of digestive disorders and a gradual breakdown of the systems of elimination were observed.
From the conclusions of the Swiss, Russian and German scientific clinical studies, we can no longer ignore the microwave oven sitting in our kitchens. Based on this research, we will conclude this article with the following:
1). Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term - permanent - brain damage by "shorting out" electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].
2). The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.
3). Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.
4). The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.
5). Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.
6). The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.
7). Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This may explain the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in America.
8). The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.
9). Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.
10). Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.
end of article
In the fast paced, I need it now society, we have become accustomed to the quick fix. Walk through any grocery store aisle and most items are packaged and designed for a quick, "wholesome" meal. We need to question a little stronger what wholesome looks like and what we are actually ingesting.
If you google microwave cooking you will receive this information and then many other sites that will completely disagree. My instincts tell me that local farming, fresh whole foods and traditional farming and cooking methods are best for health. I know that we are all really busy and that sometimes we just don't have the time. Recently, we have begun using our toaster oven (a favorite heating source during the Texas summers) and the stove top. I have found that the time it takes to heat or reheat food in this manner seldom is longer than the microwave. In addition, the food does taste better.
As we strive towards the goal of better health I may have to rid myself of some technologies I thought were helping me and rediscover that a little extra time may go a long way in aiding my family's long-term health.
Monday, April 12, 2010
A few fantasies
Why
In my fantasy life I am an accomplished author that sits on the beach, listening to the ocean crash against the shore and writes awesome novels and someday an autobiography that everyone will read. This of course is my fantasy life. For now I sit at my kitchen table surrounded by breakfast dishes, listening to the sounds of my children playing the newest electronic game. Not that I would trade one for the other (okay maybe I would) but remember this is about my fantasy life. My friend Andi said I should blog - so this is me, in my day to day, trying to become that famous author - for now I have you reading what I think is enlightening, hopefully humorous and on a really good day encouraging - That is the Why - why I am spending time at my kitchen table surrounded by breakfast dishes. Because in my fantasy world, what I say matters.
High School
I have become somewhat of a fan of facebook. One of the things that really strikes me about this site is that you can talk to and find people you haven't seen in years - this may be a good or bad thing. As I enjoy my 40's there is some reminiscing about remember when - which brings me to High School - My fantasy today would be to go back and be my best friend- with the knowledge I currently posses. I would tell myself to live a little, to not be so serious, I would tell myself that no matter what anyone says it really is not the end of the world. I would stop myself from making stupid choices and I would encourage myself to be more respectful to my parents. I would encourage myself to not be so afraid of what others think. I would tell myself you are a good friend. I would tell myself to pay attention to people around me and the big picture and not get so caught up in the small details. These are the things I have learned since high school that I think would be good to know when you are there - in the middle of it. So for one day, I would go back and be a really good friend - to me. Now I know this can't happen - and part of what makes me who I am today are the experiences I went through. So maybe, I'll just work on passing these pearls of wisdom on to my daughter. Or maybe I'll invite a time machine.
super model
The Cake Maker
Thursday, April 1, 2010
A healthy health care debate
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to exchange some dialogue with my Nephew and his friends concerning the current health care debate - some of my excerpts are below - I truly enjoyed this civil and thought- provoking exchange and would welcome more in the future.
@Chris -if we were guaranteed that money would solve the problem - this bill would have more supporters - but since the government really has never proven it can do a better job than people relating one on one I am a little skeptical that it will provide better health care - - the reality is that it is not about the money - its about the regulation- the steady rise in medical care comes from the fact that I have to employ at least 2 extra employees just to manage government regulations - and this does not improve the care I am able to provide it only causes undue stress. If a doctor was able to spend more time actually relating to patients and not jumping through regulatory hoops the system would be better and cheaper. (I am not advocating no regulation - just ones that make sense) which I see very little of. In our current practice we give at least 30% of services to the poor and those that are not able to afford good medical care - it appears that I don't need the government to tell me I need to give more - I am doing this just fine on my own. @Chris the $138 billion in savings is very questionable no government cost projections have come in anywhere near their projected cost. Comparing abolishing slavery to government run health care is comparing apples to cars - While there was argument against abolishing slavery based on economics - government run health care is not a matter of civil rights. The argument that people can't get health care in this country is insane - After 20 years of ER experience my husband will tell you that no person has been sent out of the ER because they didnt have funds - and most are well aware that medical bills do not affect your credit rating so the crazy stories about people going bankrupt from medical bills are few and far between. Now it is true that without ins. it is hard to receive surgeries and care that is not emergent. But all people have the ability to apply for current government aid - its just that wading through that system takes longer than people would like. Get in line - this will be the care of the future for all @ Tyler your reference
is a little out of context - the Bible says take them in - not feed them to the government to take care of. - Again as individuals if we are doing our part it will always be better than allowing the government to make the decisions. BTW in the most recent polls that have been corroborated - nearly 1/2 of the US physicians (nearly 350K+) intend to retire if this bill is passed - how ethical then is it to try and cover 30 million patients with 1/2 the current physician supply. If health care becomes a right to all US Citizens then the Slavery, that was abolished in 1863 by the Emancipation Proclamation, will now be applied to all health care professionals. Slaves make poor Doctors. Now that's comparing apples to apples.
@Tyler regarding your premises to ponder 1. basic health care as a right - I think the founding fathers were aware of what they were determining when they listed life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as inalienable rights -these are all rights which do not require servitude of another individual. When you mandate or legislate a right to a person that requires service from another you are in a sense enslaving one to serve the other - I think a great read in this area is Ayn Rand and her medical essays (I do not agree with her on many points but here it makes sense)
I believe that if we begin to legislate rights of service - the question then becomes where does it stop - when will I have the right to go to dinner once a week at the expense of the government and those that own eating establishments (this may seem ridiculous but has to be considered when you carry this theme out)
I think if we follow the greatest commandment that was given and the one as Christians that we are to follow which is to love your neighbor then all of this solves itself. As the government interjects itself into the lives of individuals we no longer have the latitude, energy, money or time to carry out this commandment. Even worse you will have individuals that will deem that they are already paying taxes for the government to handle these needs so they do not need to. BTW this already occurs in churches as people hand over their money in the pew and then leave the care to the administrations in charge - believing they are absolved of their individual duty to give and to love. The greatest issue is one of personal responsibility and just how far we as individuals are willing to carry out the commandment that was given to us - or are we willing to just pay our fines,tithes, taxes and indulgences and let the chips fall where they may.
Personally on that great and faithful day I want to be able to stand and hear well done my good and faithful servant - NOT- yep, you're all paid up.
@Chris -if we were guaranteed that money would solve the problem - this bill would have more supporters - but since the government really has never proven it can do a better job than people relating one on one I am a little skeptical that it will provide better health care - - the reality is that it is not about the money - its about the regulation- the steady rise in medical care comes from the fact that I have to employ at least 2 extra employees just to manage government regulations - and this does not improve the care I am able to provide it only causes undue stress. If a doctor was able to spend more time actually relating to patients and not jumping through regulatory hoops the system would be better and cheaper. (I am not advocating no regulation - just ones that make sense) which I see very little of. In our current practice we give at least 30% of services to the poor and those that are not able to afford good medical care - it appears that I don't need the government to tell me I need to give more - I am doing this just fine on my own. @Chris the $138 billion in savings is very questionable no government cost projections have come in anywhere near their projected cost. Comparing abolishing slavery to government run health care is comparing apples to cars - While there was argument against abolishing slavery based on economics - government run health care is not a matter of civil rights. The argument that people can't get health care in this country is insane - After 20 years of ER experience my husband will tell you that no person has been sent out of the ER because they didnt have funds - and most are well aware that medical bills do not affect your credit rating so the crazy stories about people going bankrupt from medical bills are few and far between. Now it is true that without ins. it is hard to receive surgeries and care that is not emergent. But all people have the ability to apply for current government aid - its just that wading through that system takes longer than people would like. Get in line - this will be the care of the future for all @ Tyler your reference
(Your asked if you served the poor, clothed the naked, and housed the homeless. And when you find a stranger on the side of the road who is dying; you take them to an inn and PAY FOR THEIR HEALTHCARE!)
@Tyler regarding your premises to ponder 1. basic health care as a right - I think the founding fathers were aware of what they were determining when they listed life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as inalienable rights -these are all rights which do not require servitude of another individual. When you mandate or legislate a right to a person that requires service from another you are in a sense enslaving one to serve the other - I think a great read in this area is Ayn Rand and her medical essays (I do not agree with her on many points but here it makes sense)
I believe that if we begin to legislate rights of service - the question then becomes where does it stop - when will I have the right to go to dinner once a week at the expense of the government and those that own eating establishments (this may seem ridiculous but has to be considered when you carry this theme out)
I think if we follow the greatest commandment that was given and the one as Christians that we are to follow which is to love your neighbor then all of this solves itself. As the government interjects itself into the lives of individuals we no longer have the latitude, energy, money or time to carry out this commandment. Even worse you will have individuals that will deem that they are already paying taxes for the government to handle these needs so they do not need to. BTW this already occurs in churches as people hand over their money in the pew and then leave the care to the administrations in charge - believing they are absolved of their individual duty to give and to love. The greatest issue is one of personal responsibility and just how far we as individuals are willing to carry out the commandment that was given to us - or are we willing to just pay our fines,tithes, taxes and indulgences and let the chips fall where they may.
Personally on that great and faithful day I want to be able to stand and hear well done my good and faithful servant - NOT- yep, you're all paid up.
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