27. January 2010 by PawBill.

Lately, I have become a fan of Dr. Oz (www.doctoroz.com).  I believe his informative medical program is filling a void at a time when many are seeking to become healthier through simple lifestyle changes in nutrition, exercise and weight loss. Frequently his program also examines medical concerns or conditions that have in the past been considered too embarrassing or socially taboo.

His recent television show exposing teenage sexuality in its crassest form should frighten all parents and grandparents.   The frightening aspects are unwanted pregnancies and diseases that will have a lifetime impact on those who, in some cases, only engaged in a sexual act of promiscuity one time.  Whether you want to accept it or not, teenagers and many preteens are engaging in dangerous sexual practices without any knowledge of the life changing consequences that may result.

The continual practice of unprotected anal, oral, and vaginal sex practiced without regard to gender or number of participants will ultimately lead to a life time of incurable and life threatening diseases that could ultimately lead to death. America’s teenagers are engaging in these practices without regard to the consequences that may result. This is a medical and social fact that no one wants to discuss but that must be discussed.

Sexually transmitted diseases are real, but they are not new.  Hollywood promotes sexuality as being cool and liberating, and many in the world have accepted and condoned their message. Your teenage children and grandchildren have embraced the “lie” and “lifestyle” of Hollywood and are recklessly engaging in sexual practices that they have not been forewarned against.

Is this a new phenomenon that has suddenly appeared?  In a word, “NO.” Sexually transmitted diseases were known and written about thousands of years ago.  Biblical writers called them “sins” because many people of the time would not have understood the terminology and concept of virus and bacterial infections.  Most of our teenagers and to some extent their parents do not understand the dangers and have been unwilling to jointly discuss.

Although this is both a morality and public health issue, a discussion with your child should not initially be about morality but about your child’s safety and health.  This should be an open discussion and not a lecture on right and wrong.  A frank discussion about the dangers of unprotected sexual practices could make a difference in a child’s life.  Do it today!

If you have never given sexual immorality and godlessness much of a thought, consider what Paul wrote in the book of Romans (NKJV), chapter 1, verses 18-32.  Whether you will consider it or not is a decision you will have to make.

Consider if you will Paul’s words written through the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit almost two thousand years ago.  Apparently man is not as intelligent as he considers himself given his arrogance in ignoring history.

Romans 1:18-32

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” 

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27. January 2010 by PawBill.

“Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils.  Of what account is he?” (Isaiah 2:22).

Do you read the fine print? I have never been a detail reader of the “fine print” placed in documents by legal attorneys.  That is not to say that I blindly sign all documents without reading. In days gone by you could rely on honesty between individuals and their explanations of the “fine print.” Contracts were fairly simple in nature, and if you upheld your commitment all went well. Humor me here, and let’s not get into contract law and all that stuff.  I understand the necessity.

Twenty-ten is a new year with reset medical plan deductibles for most people who have some form of health insurance.  I am thankful that I have medical insurance, but there has been and always will be “fine print” that I care not to read.  

When I began my career with Southern Bell in 1970, I had great medical coverage.  It was one of those benefits you soon came to take for granted.  Southern Bell at that time was under the umbrella of AT&T.  Eventually AT&T was broken up and Southern Bell became BellSouth.  Now AT&T has bought BellSouth, and we have almost gone full circle with AT&T owning many of its original entities. Go figure.

I could have retired from BellSouth in the early nineties with a “no cost to me” medical benefit plan.  I chose to continue to work but slowly my medical plan changed, and I was saddled with paying a portion of my medical expense coverage. BellSouth no longer paid the entire cost of medical care. After all, there were exorbitant executive salaries and perks to pay, and the cost of medical benefits were beginning to escalate for employers.  However, my medical co-pay for drugs remained low, usually under twelve dollars for the medications I took.

Medicare is now my primary care provider, and my retirement medical coverage as provided by AT&T is classed as secondary coverage.  CVS Caremark administers AT&T’s drug plan.  I now have a deductible of approximately twelve hundred dollars per year plus a larger co-pay for any drugs that I may require.  Heaven forbid that I “mess up” and do not use an approved provider, hospital or my authorized mail order drug system, as my cost would sky rocket out of control.

Now, I am not complaining about my medical benefits.  I worked for the medical benefits that I have, and I am thankful that I am still able to afford a medical plan even though “verbal management promises” were made regarding the great medical benefits Southern Bell provided to its active and retired employees when I first became an employee of “Ma Bell.” Any changes made in my medical plan coverage have all been legal and were all covered in the “fine print.” 

What I am complaining about is the merciless greed AT&T and Caremark engages in at the beginning of each new calendar year.  I just refilled my first prescriptions for the year.  A medicine that will cost approximately seventy-six dollars in co-pay for a three-month’s supply will cost two hundred and seventy dollars.  After meeting my deductible the drug will once again revert to a lesser co-pay. Last week there was a seven hundred and sixty-two dollar charge for other drugs. Apparently their goal is to eat up my deductible as fast as they can. It was the same last year, and I hoped there would be a change.  I should have complained last year, but I just let it go.  This year I will not let it go, so I am going to complain.

I have to meet my deductible so whether it is taken all at once via the drug plan or taken throughout the year only impacts my cash flow for January and February.  It is a hardship but fortunately I can manage it. s I am sure there are those who cannot, and it will be a hardship for them. I will not argue the merits of AT&T’s and CVS Caremark’s contracts since I am sure it is all covered in the “fine print.”

The ObamaCare medical bill that has been under consideration has “fine print” and may still be under consideration in some format that would fundamentally change America’s health care system—not for the good of everyone but ultimately for the detriment of all.  Heck, the present bill contains “large print” that no one has read or even fully understands much less what’s detailed in the “small print.”  I feel confident that my drug coverage will escalate in future years if I am still able to keep my AT&T medical benefits. I am sure the “fine print” has or soon will have provisions to “dump” me from coverage.

It is past time for those who believe in the Constitution of the United States of America to take a stand and defend our great country against those who seek to, “Fundamentally Change America.”  Let there be such an outcry that those who are seeking to change our country by destroying its Constitution will “craw” back under the rocks from which they came.”

Continue to call and write your Senators and Representative and make your demands known; they work for us, we do not work for them.  In this election year and in all future election years let’s vote out of office any elected official that has not demonstrated a love for their country by defending its Constitution. We can overturn the destructive agendas and laws that have been enacted by our Socialist, Fascist and Progressive extremists who have only sought power and money for their needs, rather than what’s good for the country and for the individual.

“If you will not fight for your country you will lose both your country and your freedom.”  Now is not the time to bury your head in the sand and pretend that there is no problem or that you will not be affected.  Are you willing to fight or will you “stay on the plantation with Uncle Tom” as the old saying goes? This applies to everyone who believes in God and the morality He demands.

Read the “fine print.  Let’s make the sacrifices required to protect our children and grandchildren.  Do it now!!!!! 

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27. January 2010 by PawBill.

When the Israelites were brought out from Egypt, where they had been slaves for over 400 years, Moses led them through the wilderness for forty years while they were prepared for entry into the land promised to their ancestor, Abraham, by God.

It was in the wilderness that God gave them through Moses the Ten Commandments and other laws.  I find it interesting that God gave specific restrictions and punishments for pagan practices such as the following: consulting mediums and spiritualists, homosexuality, cursing your father or mother, adultery, sexual relations with an animal, a man having sex with his daughter-in-law and the list goes on.

If you have an interest, read the various commands as recorded in the book of Leviticus, found in the Old Testament of the Bible.  Christian morality standards were derived from the Biblical commandments given to Moses by God for the Hebrew people.

God specifically prohibited a variety of sexual immoralities He called sins, and death was the required punishment for those caught practicing those sins.  No one over the age of forty who left Egypt with Moses was allowed to enter the Promised Land because they continually rejected the laws of God and continued in their pagan desires; they all died as a result.

Can you imagine living in an era where such practices were routinely practiced?  Actually, these activities are still being practiced in our so-called “modern world” so I guess we have not made a lot of progress since the time before Jesus.  Today’s society even condones this type of social behavior so I guess God is not very pleased with us.

So what about all of this?  Do you believe the story?  Do you believe what is written in the Bible?  Do you condone or approve of sexual immorality?  Today’s movies and television programming are promoting sexuality, disguised as entertainment.  After all, if the “movie stars” are doing it, it must be OK for your children and yourself.  Have you ever taken the time to read what is written in the Bible?  Do you believe in God?  Do you even care?

I believe that Jesus is the Son of God; that He came in person to save me from my sins and death; that He was crucified and died on a Roman cross and arose from the dead; that if I confess my sins and confess that Jesus is Lord, I will one day live with Him for eternity. Nothing about the name of Jesus offends me.  He is my savor.

Where do you stand?  Do you have a savior? Is it God or some other god? The God I’m referring to is the God of the Bible; the “I AM that I AM.” (As a side note, Oprah has proclaimed that she and everyone else are “I AM’s.”) Do you believe Oprah or what is written in the Bible? Just what will you decide.  Will you confess Jesus as the Lord of your life or will you deny Jesus and accept man’s gods and their ways?

God is not a person that we can see like we see others or ourselves; God is Spirit.  God is invisible but visible through His creative acts and through the life of His Son, Jesus.  Now, you can believe what the intellectual biologists believe—we just evolved over eons out of a quagmire of poop—or what the Bibles teaches.  I believe the creation story and the Biblical teachings about Jesus.

What about you? What do you believe?

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