One Hundred and Six Thousand and Creeping

       One hundred and six thousand people. Yup, one hundred and six thousand people. After spending 600 million dollars promoting and attempting?!?!, to set Obamacare together, the White House managed to sign up about one hundred and six thousand people for Obamacare. The Obama administration boasted 500,000 people would sign up by October. The country is deep into November and the numbers are not even up to halfway there. This is the plan that according to Obama was suppose to touch the lives of millions of Americans by providing them with an healthcare plan many of them would not normally be able to afford. The plan was supposed to keep American tax payers from behind denied insurance because of preexisting health conditions. The Great Plan was supposed to save the day by giving to the masses what everybody always craves, security.
       For many years the people of America had wide discretion for which healthcare company and what kind of healthcare plan they were going to receive. An individual obtained decent employment from a decent company the same person would often received decent insurance from a respectable insurance company. The ones who could afford it privately bought their own insurance. People working lesser skilled jobs or with smaller companies, or businesses with lower monetary ability often still received insurance but with less benefits. Those who worked in jobs whom couldn't afford or simply would not provide them with insurance collected free or lower priced governmental insurance and or benefits. Unemployed individuals would receive government assistance. The system was not necessarily always fair. It was not simple but it worked and most US workers knew and understood where the stood insurance wise and how things were going to work. Insurance was still expensive for many but still manageable for much of the population. Many people complained about those receiving Medicaid and Medicare. Many of those on Medicaid and Medicare complained about not receiving enough, but these are years long disputes that much of the population and media would admit is a serous problem but in reality don't lose any sleep over.
       But one man. A man famous for his demands and determination toward having politics go his way and the way of his party. This man, President Obama, decides that he has the problem already solved. Despite warnings from much of the Republican part members, insurance company representatives, many from the public sector, and a few from his own Democrat party the President decided to go ahead and push forward with his Obama care plan. The plan that was supposed to highlight Obama's legacy as a national leader, along with his pro - gay marriage campaign. The plan that unfortunately for Obama turned upside down while illustrating the weaknesses of our great president as well as the Democratic Party. Obama's lack of patience and inability to listen and take seriously those who disagree and disapprove of his plan may haunt his legacy as a president. Though the Republican party may have been beaten and trounced in many of its election competitions against the opposing Democrats they are still a reputable party filled with educated and tried leaders. The Republican party is still followed and respected by many millions of Americans. The president should learn not to always disregard their complaints and disagreements as simply whining.
       One hundred and six thousand signees with the cost of insurance rising higher for many US citizens with a high number losing their insurance, why would it take so long for one to admit he made a mistake. Myself calling several insurance companies and brokers felt surprised to hear some of the high prices offered for services that President Obama firmly promised was going to be cheaper. I saw for myself that NO, it definitely was not cheaper. In fact most of the prices averaged at least $150-$200 more per month than what I was used to paying for my insurance provided through my own job. Now my insurance is not the greatest insurance but I am not guaranteed that at $200 plus per month that I am going to receive a better experience someplace else or worse off not get dropped for some unknown reason. Shopping for insurance for my wife and kids we saw no better alternative than to simply have them sign up with me. Thank God I am working.
       Now some of the Democratic party members are finally coming out to admit that this Affordable Care Act plan is a big mistake. Of course most of these governmental officials are trying to save their own jobs, but I am surprised to hear Liberal media finally admitting the plans weaknesses. Maybe it is because Obama already won the election. They don't feel desperate to have to defend him anymore.
       Well, this plan needs to be ripped apart and thrown in the trash. The plan sucks. It is not a party thing. It would not matter to me if Obama was a Republican. The plan has cost many hardworking Americans their insurance, raised the price of insurance, and has made a good insurance plan unaffordable for many US citizens. And the AFA act is simply too complicated making one feel like someone is trying to control while manipulating the money trail in the insurance market. Sounds like a future huge scandal in the making. Obama's plan to postpone the AFA act for one year won't work. Many insurance companies have already let go of their former customers' plans and the government does not have the authority to force these companies to give their customers back their insurance at the same rate they were paying. The government itself will have to fork over that money. That is billions of more dollars on top of trillion plus dollars of government deficit. Scratch the whole thing. Allow everyone the freedom to decide whether they want or do not want to have insurance. Allow each person to decide whether or not they want to take the risk and live with it. This is America after all, home of the free. The freedom to make one's own choice.

Halloween Storms Out

       The year 2013, just like the past few years features a Halloween season drenched with strong winds, heavy rains, and simply further damaging weather. Parts of the Midwest were damaged by strong winds and heavy rains ruining Halloween for many of its fans.  2012 Hurricane Sandy wrecked the Atlantic shores and beautiful beaches of New Jersey, Manhattan, and Long Island of New York. 2011Halloween nor'easter produced unusual October snowfalls in areas located in the eastern United States and maritime Canada. At least 20 cities received record snowfalls and numerous power outages making trick or treating impossible.
       The storms in 2013, just a few days ago created high winds and tornados in at least 12 states while overturning a school box, electrocuting a young child, and knocking down trees. And yet many people still look upon such many circumstances as pure coincidences and still stubbornly celebrate Halloween with what some will call "bravery" and "courage". The Bible will call such reactions stubbornness and foolhardy.
¹⁰ “The bricks have fallen down,
    but we will rebuild with dressed stone;
the fig trees have been felled,
    but we will replace them with cedars.”
¹¹ But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them
    and has spurred their enemies on.
¹² Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west
    have devoured Israel with open mouth.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
    his hand is still upraised.

¹³ But the people have not returned to him who struck them,
    nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.
¹⁴ So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,
    both palm branch and reed in a single day;
¹⁵ the elders and dignitaries are the head,
    the prophets who teach lies are the tail.

Isaiah 9:10-15

 

       Does the above sound familiar to you? Since hearing this verse from my pastor more than once during more than one of his sermons I have paid special attention to people's, especially leaders' comments during and after major tragedies and disasters and yes much of their comments do sound similar to what is mentioned in Isaiah 9:10-15. Much of the "we will rebuild" chatter has been made since Hurricane Sandy" yet much of the damage still remains. I don't expect the media to make a connection between the hurricanes, damaging weather and the wickedness of Halloween (“Do not allow a sorceress to live, Exodus 22:18), but Christians, those who daily study their Bibles and take God's Word seriously, they should entertain some suspicion. The deal is God knows, sees what is going on in this country, this world and even though many of us will go on through life pretending as if what we do and say does not matter and everything that happens in the present the future is all supposedly up to us, the truth is God is in charge and as He has promised there will be judgment here on earth as well as when His precious Son Jesus finally returns. Those who refuse to believe will continue to be shocked when such damaging weather patterns occur during their day of revelry. They will be confused to witness such chaotic weather while they openly disregard His Word. In return, in order to satisfy their guilty conscience, or simply out of pure ignorance, many will make up terms such as global warming in order to make sense out of something that is already so clear.

       But even with all the cover ups and the attempts to encourage people to go on with their lives: "Be Brave", "Don't Allow this Event to Change You", one who looks closely will notice that the 2013 Halloween holiday was not as loud and proud as the past ones. This letter comes from someone who has attended many Halloween parties as a child and young adult. As a child I grew up in a community where almost every child and teenager participated in trick or treating. The holiday in 2013 was quiet compared to previous years. Not as much Halloween television, specials, scary movies, toys, cartoons. Not as much churches were advertising pumpkin patch kids gatherings. News media were not boasting as much of costume gatherings as during previous years. Not as much people were dressing up in scary costumes at work, in retail stores, or in the neighborhoods. Many stories were reported about people still suffering in damages from last years horror, Hurricane Sandy. One can tell that some people were putting one and two together. One can sense some fear, some reluctance to continue with horror, business as usual.

       At times there is nothing wrong with being afraid. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, Proverbs 9:10. At times that second, third thought, may save one or one's family from God's potential future wrath. One may think twice before donning a witch's mask or behaving like an axe murderer. God is not laughing. Why try to tempt Him?