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What is wrong with the Healthcare debate

What is wrong with the Healthcare debate is a reflection of what is wrong with the economic philosophy of our nation.  Our grandparents chose their lifestyle by using the words, "can we afford this?"  The society today decides what lifestyle they will live and are entitled to and then hunts a way in which to fund it.  Whether it be credit cards, loans, second mortgages, or whatever, I have a right to live a certain lifestyle.  This philosophy has translated to the government.  We are now facing the onslaught of those who demand all the trappings of a certain level of lifestyle and then we will figure out how to fund it later.  

There are two fundamental issues in dead collision; 1) the belief that every American has a right to health care, insurance, etc as good as anyone else has; 2)  the financially limited resources of our nation.  We are in debt up to our eyeballs.  The question here is not is it a good thing for all to have health care but can we afford to pay for it for those who can't? I'm ok with the concept of universal healthcare.  I just don't know how we pay for it?

Responsible government says that somewhere we have to cut enough to make up the cost if we intend to do this.  Just like normal people do every month with their own personal budgets.  We didn't take a trip this year we had planned because we had a few unexpected expenses to arise.  Something had to give, it was the trip.

With this government we don't seem to have the same level of personal responsibility as most of us practice.  If you don't have it, you can't spend it.  If you are struggling financially, then you throw stuff off the boat until it quits sinking.

I can fix this, they just wouldn't let me.

Work in Progress

I'm almost a month into my renewal of my life, business, ministry, etc.  Here's what I have found. 

1.  It is true that God helps those who help themselves.  I always hated that statement but there is truth in it. I am working like it all depends on me and praying like it all depends on God. You know what?  God is abundantly gracious and kind and somehow it is all in motion and appears to be working.  I am still up to my ears in alligators but I am fighting my way through it. 

2.  It seems to get straightened and "get my act together", I am forever destined to make people mad.  It is like feeding the bears.  When you quit feeding, (doing what benefits them), they get really testy.

3.  It is alot easier to get into committments than get out.

4.  My daily walk with God is the conduit for my strength which comes from Him.

5.  My family continues to be the source of much joy.  Hunting with the guys, playing with the gkids, hanging around the house with my wife, those moments are what keeps you going.

6.  Get a plan, work the plan, adjust the plan, then work it some more.

New Year Here I come

I am officially pumped up about the coming New Year. For one thing, it is going to be better. I just know it. Not that I am in that much control, mind you, but it has to be. 2009 was a tough year for me. The economy hurt me a good bit in my particular business. But the killer was that I bought into some really bad information in my life and business that I bit on like a big bass hitting a lure. I don't really know what made me so gullible except maybe that it was so much of what I wanted to hear.

I realized through that some valuable lessons that I will now proceed to pass on.

1. You are never a bigger sucker than when someone is saying what you really hoped to hear. When it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
2. NEVER act on what you hope is so, make sure it is so before jumping in with all you have. I know faith is there somewhere, but when we get the smell of a big kill financially or career wise, we can loose all sense. We behave much like a big buck in hunting season when the rut comes in. A normally cautious animal will come trotting out accross a wide open field like he is bullet proof. He is not and neither are you.
3. Listen carefully to the arguement going on between your heart and head. I know you have those, so do I. Your head is saying, there is something not right here, your heart is saying, but it sounds soooo good.
4. Go listen to the old song by Kenny Rogers, the gambler. "you got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run...". good advice. You don't have to make your money where you lost it. If the horse is dead, get off and seek another ride. Don't waste time trying to resurrect a dead horse.
5. Realize that sometimes the greatest damage is what is done to your mind and heart in these things. You get your thinking fuzzy because you keep saying, but what if...; then comes the anger and resentment and they should make this right stuff. Both of those will derail your thinking, etc.
6. Pull aside, refocus, and get a plan that does not involve relying on this whatever. Get a plan, work the plan and work with purpose and determination.

This is what I am going to do in 2010. What about you?

Welcome to the New Economy

Welcome to the new economy, and I don't think I like it. I mean here I am, about to be 56 and having to reinvent my company, ministry and alot else. My business has changed, the situations of the people in my church have radically changed, and you ought to try and raise money for a non-profit right now. It is really something out there.

Maybe I am more sensitive to it than mose because I have by necessity lived in the world of the entrepeneur in the last several years. Deals are tough now because there is no money. People are scared, business is in full retreat for the most part.

So what are we to do? God's people have faced many such times in the past and will do so again. The scripture that spoke to me regarding that lately was Psalm 37. I heard Dr. Charles Stanley mention it so I went and studied it again. It was right on target. Trust in the Lord, Dwell in the Land, be faithful, stay away from anger and frustration and yes seek Him with a while heart.

Toward the end of the Psalm he states, I have been young and now am old, and I've never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging for bread.

You just can't improve on that. So hang in there, do what you must, make the changes necessary to insure your continuing financial survival, and walk with God daily.

I'm feeling better already.

you've got to be kidding

I got one of those posts on facebook the other day from a friend from the past who has now come "out of the closet". He sends out a steamy video of two men kissing. My response to him was, "you've got to be kidding". This guy was a pastor in his other life. I took his posts off my facebook.

Here is the bottom line, you can walk with the God of the Bible or invent your own god who sanctions whatever lifestyle you care to indulge in. You can do that but don't call it Christianity, it's not.

We are in trouble

The current leadership of our country seems intent on moving us to a socialist-government run state. What are people thinking in voting for these morons? Our political system has degenerated into a group of elected officials who's prime directive is their own re-election. This is done by buying votes from whatever special interest group that can be cultivated. The problem here is a lack of personal maturity and integrity on the part of us, the people. We the people are electing those who will benefit us not lead us. We want benefits not the blessings of Almighty God for Godly living and sacrifice. We don't principaled leadership, we want deliverers of pork, to our tables.

Until we change we will continue to elect more of the same. Where is the sacrifical spirit of the founders? Where is the puritan work ethic? Where is the concept of being caught up in a cause that is greater than ourseves?

We are in trouble unless we rediscover these and other related values.

insights from a car wreck

We had just finished a trip to Bass Pro shop with a couple of the grandkids when we saw it, a car violently rolling over and over down interstate. We pulled over and I got out running to help. Others were stopping and we were all working as fast as possible to check on the people involved and helping those upside down in the car to get out. Thankfully, no one was severely hurt.

As I left I realized what I had just witnessed. First of all how deliciate the line seperating life and death, health and injury. Second, at the scene we were not white people or black people or hispanic or oriental. All of those were there, but we were just people, helping one another in a dire circumstance. I saw a black man and a white man helping a white lady to the median, a hispanic lady helping a white man. I saw whites, hispanics and orientals all helping blacks, whites, you name it. In other words, race had absolutely nothing to do with anything. No one asked if they were democrat or republican, conservative or liberal. None of that mattered.

In our fractured society, perhaps we need a dose of the reality that a real crisis brings. When life and death are both within reach and in our face. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could be more of just good folks and less divisive? I get so tired of the constant conflict that is ours today.

We have seemingly lost our civility, our manners and our willingness to work together accross the lines for the common good. Every group seemingly has their agenda and that is all that seems to matter. Now don't get me wrong, I hate what is happening to our nation right now. I am a conservative and a devout believer. But I hope I don't forget the lesson of the car wreck, sometimes we just need to be good people and help one another.