I've had an interesting week. My boys are bouncing around DC/Philly and NYC on what has to be a spectacular trip. I told my kids, you are doing things and seeing things I never, ever had the chance when I was your age. Because I couldn't afford to do it. My first trips to DC and NYC were work related. I never went west of West Memphis, Arkansas, until I was a responsible adult and had to do so because of work.
They have opportunities that kids here do not. God Bless them for that. But, how can we help our kids, learn, grown and experience the USA. How can we teach them that what they see on TV is NOT America, and how can we help them understand what is important to this country and to us as Americans. It's hard. The health care debate has been extremely divisive. But with good reason. The govt. wants to establish universal health care, and that is not what our country is about, or what we should be supporting. We should be supporting reforms that lower health care costs and provide broader access. But for those of you who say with a straight face this bill does that -- well, that is a lie. The most important things to me for the health care bill are two fold. First, it is unconstiutional for the FEDERAL govt. to require every citizen to purchase something from a private company. So the remedy will be -- buy it from the govt.! That is what they want. And that will be devastating. Ask yourself, exactly what has our govt. in terms of entitlement programs, actually run efficienty and effectively. The answer has to be NONE. Medicare (which is touted as socialized medicine for seniors) is broke. Social security -- which so many people have paid thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars into the program -- is paying out more this year than it is taking in -- 9 years before the CBO estimated it would do so. It is broke. Is the answer another unfunded $1 trillion (or two trillon) mandate. NO. We can't afford it as a country. How do we fix it? We fix our govt. to start with because they are the biggest bunch of wasteful spending self-indulged politicians I've ever seen. We need to stop them. And we need to save our country.
Could we have gotten a much greater return if we had invested that money in very secure (?) govt. bonds throughout our careers -- and been much better off than what we MIGHT get (if SS survives) from the govt. This whole business of the govt. knows best and can make the best decisions for ALL of us is about as logical as buying a lottery ticket to hopefully secure our future. Maybe buying a lottery ticket has a little better odds. I'm waiting for November. Because I will do everything I can to clean the house. These politicians are a bunch of no good, self serving, lying, politicians. They need TO GO!
So how does this relate to the Jews. I've asked myself that question since I signed up to attend a Seder meal at the Temple Beth El. I really struggled with how I would approach the people there, because I cannot understand their rejection of Christ as the Messiah. But I think I figured it out. I don't understand it, and I don't necessarily agree with it considering the continual rejection of God from the people of Israel. But God says they are the choosen ones, and I want to understand and embrace their history.
When I was at the Seder meal last night, I saw Jesus throughout it. I wanted to cry out to the Jews, don't you see. But they might be doing to same to me, if they could. I don't understand it. But I'm sure God does. And it will all work out when we all (the choosen ones -- I hope I'm there) get to heaven.
I know I am trying to understand Christ's walk to the Cross which has to be one of the most difficult actions taken in the history of the Earth (and there is plenty of factual support of Christ's walk). I want (not really, but think I should) to watch the Passion with my kids this weekend. Read the 4 Gospels accounts of the last 24 hours of Jesus' life. Then, watch that film. Flinch, grimace, groan and break your heart. But there is no question -- Jesus died a brutual, horrific, undeserved death. And he did it for each and every single person on this Earth, deserved and undeserved.
I just hope we all understand it, appreciate it, accept it and live our lives the way we should. God Bless you all. Jesus lives.
