Why does health-care legislation not take effect until 2013 and 2014? I find it ironic that the Dems cannot start over because it would take too much time...BUT the plan doesn't take effect for 3 or 4 more years anyway? Hmmm???
Politics are at play on both sides but this is important legislation. It might be tough to figure out, but that is the job for those in the House & Senate. If you don't like it, resign and we will elect someone who has the courage to do what is right.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Meeting old friends for the first time
I am writing from a hotel in Palm Desert, CA. Yesterday and again later today I meet with youth pastors for coffee or lunch. 5 stops yesterday at churches and it's a repeated cycle of story, life and connection to others through student ministry.
It's like meeting someone you have known your whole life, but actually it's the first time you have ever seen them. One of my favorite parts of being a Christian (part of the body of Christ Worldwide) is these meetings. We share such a rich history because we share the burden of teaching youth, serving in the local church and trying to follow Jesus ourselves.
Anyway, it's cool! Thanks Jesse & Joe at Desert Chapel; Steve, Cameron and Ashley at Desert Springs for a great day of life together. I pray God's direction for your lives and ministry with kids. It's makes a HUGE difference.
It's like meeting someone you have known your whole life, but actually it's the first time you have ever seen them. One of my favorite parts of being a Christian (part of the body of Christ Worldwide) is these meetings. We share such a rich history because we share the burden of teaching youth, serving in the local church and trying to follow Jesus ourselves.
Anyway, it's cool! Thanks Jesse & Joe at Desert Chapel; Steve, Cameron and Ashley at Desert Springs for a great day of life together. I pray God's direction for your lives and ministry with kids. It's makes a HUGE difference.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Try to grasp this concept...
One of my all time favorite quotes from one of my undergraduate professors went something like this, "Try to grasp this concept with your feeble undergraduate mind"! LOL
I was thinking about that quote as I reviewed the events of last night. Jordan had an allergic reaction to something he ate/drank. Not totally uncommon, but this really affected his breathing. Reminded me of my childhood asthma. So we have a breathing treatment and he snaps back.
Later he was asking about the medicine and more. I was trying to explain "lungs" to a 5 year old. Hummm??? Tough job to explain what is not seen and why they are so vital to life. Sometimes, the mysteries of God, Scripture or our faith are the same way. God is trying to explain deep things and we are 5 year olds.
Thank you God for your patience to teach, reteach and teach again what we fail to understand. Your love is overwhelming!
I was thinking about that quote as I reviewed the events of last night. Jordan had an allergic reaction to something he ate/drank. Not totally uncommon, but this really affected his breathing. Reminded me of my childhood asthma. So we have a breathing treatment and he snaps back.
Later he was asking about the medicine and more. I was trying to explain "lungs" to a 5 year old. Hummm??? Tough job to explain what is not seen and why they are so vital to life. Sometimes, the mysteries of God, Scripture or our faith are the same way. God is trying to explain deep things and we are 5 year olds.
Thank you God for your patience to teach, reteach and teach again what we fail to understand. Your love is overwhelming!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Amazing quote about health-care in America
In the March 1, 2010 issue of Fortune magazine is an interview of Delos Cosgrove M.D. by Geoff Colvin. Great article and interview, but listen to G.C.'s question and Cosgroves response on one issue facing America today.
GC: "If we could get obesity and smoking under control, how much would it reduce the nation's health-care bill?
Cosgrove: It would be tremendous. Three things- smoking, diet and lack of exercise- cause 40% of premature deaths in the U.S. They contribute to 70% of the chronic diseases, things like emphysema and heart disease. And that's 75% of the cost of health care. It's huge!
If you are the CEO or in leadership in your organization, read this article and get a handle on things that will 1) help your company, by helping it's staff 2) understand what will really help the costs of health-care in America.
GC: "If we could get obesity and smoking under control, how much would it reduce the nation's health-care bill?
Cosgrove: It would be tremendous. Three things- smoking, diet and lack of exercise- cause 40% of premature deaths in the U.S. They contribute to 70% of the chronic diseases, things like emphysema and heart disease. And that's 75% of the cost of health care. It's huge!
If you are the CEO or in leadership in your organization, read this article and get a handle on things that will 1) help your company, by helping it's staff 2) understand what will really help the costs of health-care in America.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Growing up
Jordan has been counting to 100 lately. He's 5 and in his second year of part-time preschool.
Austin is learning more about basketball and getting stronger and faster.
Maddie is 14 and has her first job working at camp.
These all seem normal. Not necessarily the pace at which our children are doing these things, but that THE PLAN is for them to grow up. They are to gain independence and move out someday and have their own life, their own family and hopefully follow Jesus! (It's their choice)
If this is normal, then why do government leaders think they are doing good by "BAILING OUT" anyone? Bailing out is like having the whole country move back home. Now, I plan on being involved in my kids life till I die, but they are supposed to become independent. If they move back home I will assist in whatever way I can especially TRAINING/EDUCATION.
That seems to be the missing ingredient to most plans laid out today. HEY WASHINGTON D.C.! Two things you would do well to understand, 1) Expect Americans to take responsibility 2) Provide Training when you are providing assistance.
We should be a benevolent country, we should also help people succeed on their own as much as we can! Most of all, Americans need to GROW UP!@
Austin is learning more about basketball and getting stronger and faster.
Maddie is 14 and has her first job working at camp.
These all seem normal. Not necessarily the pace at which our children are doing these things, but that THE PLAN is for them to grow up. They are to gain independence and move out someday and have their own life, their own family and hopefully follow Jesus! (It's their choice)
If this is normal, then why do government leaders think they are doing good by "BAILING OUT" anyone? Bailing out is like having the whole country move back home. Now, I plan on being involved in my kids life till I die, but they are supposed to become independent. If they move back home I will assist in whatever way I can especially TRAINING/EDUCATION.
That seems to be the missing ingredient to most plans laid out today. HEY WASHINGTON D.C.! Two things you would do well to understand, 1) Expect Americans to take responsibility 2) Provide Training when you are providing assistance.
We should be a benevolent country, we should also help people succeed on their own as much as we can! Most of all, Americans need to GROW UP!@
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Living with Less
A few years ago we attending a Dave Ramsey seminar and began changing our approach to money. All of my professional life I have worked for Churches or camps (there is not big money in this line of work), so getting IN debt was easy and getting out was NOT!
With help from friends we began to pay down debt, but the most valuable lesson that we learned was "living with less". For about a year, our family of 5 lived on less than $25,0000/year and we took vacations, kept our TV & cell phone packages. We determined that we had 2 options.
1. Cut absolutely everything and pay off the debt as fast as possible (no Christmas, no visiting family, no TV, etc)
2. Cut down but continue to live and take longer to pay off the debt. (our choice)
Today, we live with no debt and pay off anything we charge at the end of each month. We still live simple but we are very well taken care of.
I believe that messages all over our culture tell us that we should have someone else "payoff" our debts or take care of us. Our national government is fighting this same issue each day by debating financial issues. As Americans, I believe we must individually take responsibility for our situation and move to "live with less" until things get better. Learning to say "I don't need that" or "We will wait until we have the money to buy" has been the most powerful statements we know.
This kind of practice has set us FREE instead of holding us! We are no longer under a bank or credit companies control. WE ARE IN CONTROL. It's about time that our Nation consider the above options and pay down debt, live with less and teach our citizens to do the same.
With help from friends we began to pay down debt, but the most valuable lesson that we learned was "living with less". For about a year, our family of 5 lived on less than $25,0000/year and we took vacations, kept our TV & cell phone packages. We determined that we had 2 options.
1. Cut absolutely everything and pay off the debt as fast as possible (no Christmas, no visiting family, no TV, etc)
2. Cut down but continue to live and take longer to pay off the debt. (our choice)
Today, we live with no debt and pay off anything we charge at the end of each month. We still live simple but we are very well taken care of.
I believe that messages all over our culture tell us that we should have someone else "payoff" our debts or take care of us. Our national government is fighting this same issue each day by debating financial issues. As Americans, I believe we must individually take responsibility for our situation and move to "live with less" until things get better. Learning to say "I don't need that" or "We will wait until we have the money to buy" has been the most powerful statements we know.
This kind of practice has set us FREE instead of holding us! We are no longer under a bank or credit companies control. WE ARE IN CONTROL. It's about time that our Nation consider the above options and pay down debt, live with less and teach our citizens to do the same.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Got tired of goofing this stuff up...so
Valentines Day is just around the corner. Normally, I would try to be creative and come up with something that would make my wife happy and feel loved. Because we speak different "love languages" I would often miss the mark and do something to HELP her, rather than LOVE her. You know, the classic, get an appliance for her (No, I didn't ever do that on Valentines Day...Christmas maybe, but never V Day).
Well, we have known each other for 20 years and been married 18+. It was time to make all this better so I asked Lori to write out a list for every holiday and general gift guidelines for any other time. It was a little crude, but MAN HAS IT PAID OFF!
I still get to be creative and give as I see fit, but to have solid directions has made things much better. Perhaps it's our age or time together, perhaps I am the last one to the party and your are thinking, "David, you are such an idiot for just now figuring this out". Whatever!
The point is asking and listening (writing it down) has revolutionized my ability to meet my wife's needs. Cool huh! Hope it helps you ask or if you are a woman, be gentle when you give the list. Although we are dumb, we can be hurt!
Well, we have known each other for 20 years and been married 18+. It was time to make all this better so I asked Lori to write out a list for every holiday and general gift guidelines for any other time. It was a little crude, but MAN HAS IT PAID OFF!
I still get to be creative and give as I see fit, but to have solid directions has made things much better. Perhaps it's our age or time together, perhaps I am the last one to the party and your are thinking, "David, you are such an idiot for just now figuring this out". Whatever!
The point is asking and listening (writing it down) has revolutionized my ability to meet my wife's needs. Cool huh! Hope it helps you ask or if you are a woman, be gentle when you give the list. Although we are dumb, we can be hurt!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Leadership Exposed
Are you watching? Are you listening to what is being said? Leadership is tough...You can say whatever you want, and it may come back to haunt you. However, what YOU DO matters most...at least in my opinion.
While I prefer President Bush to President Obama, I have never met either man. They have both taken on a difficult task and both have done some things well and other things not so well.
As I listen to what is being said today and compare it to actions taken you will understand why I say that leadership is difficult. In the end, I prefer to reserve my judgement based on the actions taken more than the words given. Case in point is a great blog by an anti-bush writer. Read it and consider the lessons.
http://hillbuzz.org/2009/11/10/thank-you-former-president-george-w-bush-and-former-first-lady-laura-bush/
While I prefer President Bush to President Obama, I have never met either man. They have both taken on a difficult task and both have done some things well and other things not so well.
As I listen to what is being said today and compare it to actions taken you will understand why I say that leadership is difficult. In the end, I prefer to reserve my judgement based on the actions taken more than the words given. Case in point is a great blog by an anti-bush writer. Read it and consider the lessons.
http://hillbuzz.org/2009/11/10/thank-you-former-president-george-w-bush-and-former-first-lady-laura-bush/
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