On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:24:24 -0500, "Rod" <kc0oeb@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>To little, to late.........
>
>
> I've wanted to publish this piece for a very long time, and I haven't
>done it
>because of the potential of reprisals against my family, but more and
more
>I am seeing the same things happening to others that I'll mention here,
and
>it isn't worth the price these people are paying for my silence. I have
>several
>friends that are senior citizens, republican, democrat and independent
that
>have
>made the mistake of voting in the present administration and many of the
>congressmen now serving. And for the last 50 years they have been wi****ng
>they could take it all back. I have friends that cannot afford to pay for
>public
>trans****tation or food for themselves because they have to pay for
medicine
>and health care. One of my friends is an ex truck driver as I am, and he
>cannot
>drive any longer due to a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation,
or
>some know
>as sudden cardiac death. He is has applied to social security for
>disability 3
>times and been denied after providing evidence of the condition. His
doctor,
>a mainstream republican sup****ter, wouldn't willingly turn over his
medical
>records
>that detail the diagnoses, and a court order was required to get the
>records. This
>guy has been trying to find funding to go back to school to learn a new
>occupation
>so that the remainder of his life will be productive, but he is
encountering
>roadblocks
>at every turn. His savings have been eaten by healthcare bills because he
no
>longer
>has the benefits of health insurance, his wife is working trying very
hard
>to keep
>them afloat. And these two people are counting themselves fortunate !
>Everyday
>there are people that can't get healthcare for lack of ability to pay,
can't
>by food
>or medication or both, and no offer or hope of relief comes within site.
The
>same
>old story, the wealthy get wealthier and the poor go without. It seems
now
>that the
>people of America are more devoted than ever to serving their own desires
>than
>they have previously been. One of my friends actually tried to commit
>suicide because
>the expense of his medication and healthcare was draining their finances
and
>he
>was living in fear of what would happen to his wife if he lived for any
>length of time.
>
> From my vantage point I see two things happening; the price of
medicine
>and
>healthcare is ever increasing, and every day a few people can no longer
get
>health
>care for inability to pay for it, or the inability to pay for the
medicine.
>More and more
>disabled people are denied employment IF their applications are even
looked
>at, and
>many of these are the same kinds of people that created these problems to
>begin with,
>but many more are NOT ! Why should the needy remain needy for the selfish
?
>They should
>NOT !
>
> For my two cents worth, if we are to survive as a people..we must end
>this self-centered
>urge to profit at anyone's expense. Confronting the people that promote
this
>kind of living
>has never been successful, they are strong and independent, and they have
an
>excuse
>and a reason for everything they do. Imagine if you will, a homeless
woman
>lying on a
>doorstep with no money to by food or shelter. She has uncontrolled high
>blood pressure
>and she's going into type 2 diabetes. Her last meal came from a garbage
can
>over a week
>ago, and the only water she has to drink is from the cooler at the public
>library and the
>police station. Now picture a guy walking past her slowly, looking at
her,
>then moving on
>to the next doorway, where he stops and unlocks the door. A few minutes
>later the police
>arrive and arrest her for vagrancy, and take her to the station. She is
now
>at the station,
>where they book her for vagrancy and finger print her, and then put her
in
>the public tank.
>
> One hour later, the jailer notices that her right foot is swollen and
>bleeding badly on the
>sole of her foot, so the jailer p***** that info to the watch commander.
>Another hour p*****
>and the jailer returns to the tank and tells her that she is released on
her
>own recognance,
>she asks why, and she is told by the commander of the watch that the city
>doesn't want to incur
>a medical expense to treat an injury to her foot. He also tells here that
>she has to appear in
>municipal court 2 weeks from this day to face the charge of vagrancy.
This
>woman, on top
>of all the evil that has been dumped upon her, now has a minor criminal
>record because she
>sought a tem****ary place of refuge on some business mans doorstep.
>
> I know this to be true, because the woman is now living with Mary and
I.
>Mary and I went to court
>with her and paid her fine for vagrancy. The court would have imposed a
>sentence of 5 days in jail
>except they would have to feed, house and treat her injury, and that is
all
>that stopped the judge
>from imposing such a sentence. Their is an organization here named
Angelfood
>Ministries that is
>trying to help senior citizens and the homeless, and they do the best
they
>can. I've talked with
>two representatives from the organization, and they tell me it is very
>difficult to get funding
>from the government for the project. It seems that a big part of the
problem
>is Bush's faith based
>initiative is parting out funds to large denominations such as the
>Methodists, Catholics, ect..,
>and they are using the funds to build churches and paying salaries
instead
>of taking care of
>the helpless and homeless in their congregations. As a matter of course I
>checked on this
>and found out that at least 3 ministers have been indicted for misuse of
>federal funds; a Methodist,
>a Baptist, and a minister of an apostolic tabernacle.
>
> There is a moral to these stories, but it will be lost on most reading
>this. Suffice it to say that when a
>person is willing to let another human being suffer without a second
>thought, as is happening now,
>it's time to force a change.
>
>
> Rod
>
Dear Rod,
I think you know through our posts, emails, and telephone
conversations that I consider you a friend and that I respect and
believe in much of what you seek to do. Consider what follows to be
from my heart to yours.
Over the years I have worked with many "poor" and still do. Many of
them have been welfare or social security recipients. Some with real
and genuine disabilities and others with less limiting disabilities
such as alcohol, drug, homo***ual, transgendered and other mental
health problems. As you know one of my brothers owns a trucking
company, another is a truck driver, and my brother in law (who was my
best friend before he married my sister) and his father were truckers.
I even drove a truck for a few months back in the early sixties with
my now brother in law. I am partially disabled myself and so is my
wife. I "feel" your pain.
A friend of mine is confined to a nursing home, almost blind, has
diabetes, can't walk after two hip replacements, and has multiple
sclerosis and has been trying for six years to get assistance from the
Government. See has lawyers, has written congressman, has went to
court etc, and still nothing.
On the other side of the fence, I have worked with and still do worth
with transgendered diagnosed as bipolar and homo***uals diagnosed as
schizophrenic and alcoholics and drug addicts and prositutes who got
disability in short order; usually under a year. These people can get
around and can work and are not in any pain and they get checks every
month and people like me who are Representative Payees manage their
money for them so that they won't use it unwisely.
The system is set up to make people money; not to care for the sick or
dsabled. The lady I spoke of who has been waiting for six years has a
lawyer who wants a big cut of the back pay she will receive when her
case is settled. Many of the mental health types that get their cases
approved fast are handled by companies that take them back and forth
to shrinks, to cl*****, to vocational rehab appointments, etc. etc.
Doctors and service organizations make money off people.
Who makes the laws? Lawyers and special interest groups.
Congress knows the problems that exist but won't do anything because
lawyers and doctors and cor****ations want to make money and can do so
under the existing laws.
There is only so much money to be doled out. Congress gets more bang
for its buck by helping those that can help themselves. The more
lawyers, doctors, and service companies they make happy, the more
votes they get.
I don't know how to solve the problem within our corrupt system of
Government. I do know how to help individuals one on one if I can be
in their presence on a frequent basis. Feeding the poor is not the
solution to the problem. Giving money to the needy is not the
solution to the problem. Giving medical care to the sick is not the
solution to the problem. Government welfare programs are nothing more
than methods of enslaving people. The Government gives little and
takes a lot of control.
My friend up in Iowa who is sick was a follower of Christ; but now
follows the Mahari**** (the Iowa floaters). She gets some help from
her long time boy friend who is an airline pilot who led her to the
Mahari****. I've been gently working with her to get her back to
Christ.
Others that are around me that I can coach make better progress and
some have got off the government dole, left their lives of slavery,
and are now normal people who just happen to be children of God.
What I am getting to is that God is able and willing to deliver people
if they are willing to change their lives so that they are in harmony
with God's way; whether that be diet and exercise combined with right
behavior, or; right behavior. The only way they can learn the right
behavior is to learn the word of God wherein God makes known how to
live life. It's not complicated like the religionists make it. It is
simply learning how to enjoy fellow****p with the Father.
There are two words in the Bible worth speaking about with regard to
the above. Thresskia is religion, the outward ceremonial things that
people do as a part of their religion. All that can be counterfieted.
The other word is "eusebia" which is the word translated "godliness"
which is really a true and vital spiritual relation****p with God where
God is the Father and the person is God's kid that God is responsible
for taking care of.
Our Government is made up of people who behave just like people do.
Our society is made up of people who behave just like people do. We
live in a period of lawlessness and it will get worse as the return of
Christ for His church draws near. The denominations are part of the
lawlessness. When you mix the church and the state; well, you see
what happens.
People have to learn how to take care of themselves. They need to be
taught how to take the offensive rather than being on the defense in a
lawless society led by lawless government and lawless denominations.
Church and state are people enslavers and people killers.
You or I can not change the lives of millions. But we can change our
own lives and then help others one at a time to do what we have done.
There used to be a saying "Each one reach one" which referred to one
on one witnessing to and sheparding people to the point where their
lives were such that they could reach one and teach one. That's how
the first centurry church did things when people met in homes and
could be themselves. As time progressed and politics and philosophy
and religion got control of the church, things started deteriorating.
Just know that God knows your heart and that God will work in you both
to do and will of His good pleasure. Learn these verses and do them:
Php 2:12-16 KJV
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his
good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye
****ne as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of
Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
You take care of you and your family and do the best you can to help
the "sheep" (not the goats) that God sends your way. Let Him do the
rest. You don't have to be an apostle or a prophet or an evangelist
or pastor or teacher to serve God and God's people. All you have to
be is you, love God, and love God's people. That means doing what is
right and best for individuals. The fruit of the Spirit is manifested
in the lives of those who love and obey God and who willingly love
others God's way.
You don't have to preach King Jimmy. As an ambassador for Christ you
were given and already possess both the word of reconcilation and the
ministry of reconcilation and you use those in your life to reconcile
people to God. You live the word and they will learn from your
example. Don't tell a person to repent; show him how by doing it
yoruself so that he will know how. The following poem is one of my
two favorites and for many years I have tried to live it even though
it is not from the Bible:
Sermons We See
Edgar Guest
I'd rather see a sermon
than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me
than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil
and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing,
but example's always clear;
And the best of all the preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it
if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action,
but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver
may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons
by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you
and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live.
When I see a deed of kindness,
I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles
and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him,
then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful
as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness
that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tells them,
but the one who shows the way.
One good man teaches many,
men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed
is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor
learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language
which to every one is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me
with his eloquence, I say,
I'd rather see a sermon
than to hear one, any day.
My second favorite poem:
Do it now
by Berton Braley
If with pleasure you are viewing
any work a man is doing,
If you like him or you love him,
tell him now;
Don't withhold your approbation
till the parson makes oration
And he lies with snowy lilies on his brow;
No matter how you shout it
he won't really care about it;
He won't know how many teardrops you have shed;
If you think some praise is due him
now's the time to slip it to him,
For he cannot read his tombstone when he's dead.
More than fame and more than money
is the comment kind and sunny
And the hearty, warm approval of a friend.
For it gives to life a savor,
and it makes you stronger, braver,
And it gives you heart and spirit to the end;
If he earns your praise - bestow it,
if you like him let him know it,
Let the words of true encouragement be said;
Do not wait till life is over
and he's underneath the clover,
For he cannot read his tombstone when he's dead.
Teddy Roosevelt said -
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the
strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them
better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives
valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is
no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive
to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who
spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the
triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at
least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be
with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Let God handle the Government and the religionists and then let God
work through you.
In my own life which includes a lot more than what I read and write
about on Usenet; there are real people with real needs and real
desires that I work with on a one on one basis. I am not looking
forward to eternal rewards for what I write on Usenet. There are no
rewards for writing. Rewards are for service to the body face to face
one on one and you must contend legally in order to receive the
reward. But there is more to it than that.
When you contend legally the people who you care about receive the
benefits of your service and you receive the satisfaction and joy of
seeing God work through you to help others. There ain't nothing
better than seeing someone delivered. It's better than getting
delivered yoruself.
From what I have read from you and from what we have talked about, I
believe that you have already doing the following:
Php 2:2-4 KJV
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love,
being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness
of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the
things of others.
You can't give what you ain't got. Love God, love yourself and your
family, and love the sheep God sends your way.
Bob
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