Church Bulletins!

They're Back! Those wonderful Church Bulletins! Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences (with all the BLOOPERS) actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:

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The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

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The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'

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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.

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Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

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Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

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Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

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A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow..

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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.

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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

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Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered..

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The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

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Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

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This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

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Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is done.

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The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

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The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

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Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

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Don't be Cast Down

In my devotions this morning, I read something (by Marvin Williams) about sheep that I didn't know.

Sheep are built in such a way that if they fall over on their side and then onto their back, it is very difficult for them to get up again. They flail their legs in the air, bleat, and cry. After a few hours on their backs, gas begins to collect in their stomachs, the stomach hardens, the air passage is cut off, and the sheep will eventually suffocate. This is referred to as a “cast down” position. (The cast down sheep can also fall victim to predators if the shepherd does not take action, or more commonly known to us in Mattew 18:12-14 as, "He will leave the 99 and go after the one...")

When a shepherd restores a cast down sheep, he reassures it, massages its legs to restore circulation, gently turns the sheep over, lifts it up, and holds it so it can regain its equilibrium.

What a picture of what God wants to do for us! When we are on our backs, flailing because of guilt, grief, or grudges, our loving Shepherd reassures us with His grace, lifts us up, and holds us until we’ve gained our spiritual equilibrium.

If you’ve been cast down for any reason, God is the only one who can help you get on your feet again. He will restore your confidence, joy, and strength.

"He restores my soul." (Ps. 23:3)

"Yes Drew, Gramma did try to keep this from happening."

The caption under the picture read, "Health Care = Hot Topic. Warren resident Elizabeth Campbell speaks with U.S. Rep. Sander Levin at an event at the Roseville Senior Center Aug. 13.

What it left out was that she was OPPOSED to the Health Care Bill!

God's Message: "Don't let the wise brag of their wisdom. Don't let heroes brag of their exploits. Don't let the rich brag of their riches.
If you brag, brag of this and this only: That you understand and know me. I'm God, and I act in loyal love. I do what's right and set things right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things. These are my trademarks." God's Decree. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)MSG



"Mr. President; Congressman; Senators, what will you tell your Grandchildren?"

The Brazen Truth

Top 10 things I am grateful for today...

1. Salvation and Grace
2. Trader Joe's
3. The Internet
4. Friends & family
5. Homemade Fruit/Protein Smoothies
6. Coffee
7. Life
8. Sunshine and 75 degrees
9. Freedom of Speech
10. Today

"Have no fear, Health Care is here!"

So.....how did my meeting go you ask?

Well, as it turns out, ALL of my fears were unfounded! Yes, that's what I said. It appears that everything I spent hours researching, checking, and writing that I was able to ask about or mention in our meeting was "UNTRUE!"

Below is a copy of the notes I made for the meeting, (to which I knew would not all be addressed due to the fact that there were two of us in the meeting with him and we were allowed 15 minutes to express and have our concerns addressed.) So, along with my notes are the Congressman's replies in RED, as brief as they may be! My comments in blue.

Notes for mtg. with Sander Levin – Re: HR 3200 aka “The Health Care Bill

“Public Option” or “Co-op” – a Trojan Horse?

• Insurance Companies can’t compete with government health care – they will eventually be put out of business. - "NOT TRUE!"
  
• Competition will be driven out.
• No incentive for employers to pay for private insurance.- "NOT TRUE!"
• Instead of a 1018 pg. Bill that has half the country up in arms, maybe government should narrow the focus to:
• Tort Reform – put limits on the liability claims and a cap on the rewards for damages."We had Tort Reform" - no further explanation given.
• Portability – protect coverage when workers change or lose theirs jobs (this will take care of the problem with ‘Pre-existing conditions’). - no answer - this came last and time ran out on the meeting!
  
• Allow it to cross State lines to force competition among private insurance companies. (Give us more control & more choices – forcing private plans to create better products, improve service and lower prices).

The problem goes much deeper than health care. It goes to the roots of our fundamental rights as Americans. It destroys our human rights (life & liberty). This health care plan is so far from reason – it’s not even manageable – it could even collapse our health care system altogether. When the government runs something, the price doesn't just increase – it multiplies!

Contrary to the position of many in government – There is no “right to health care”. We have a right to appeal to others when we are in need, but we have no right to demand that they help us. Charity is voluntary, and is not to be compelled by the State. Forced charity takes from one & gives to another. The giving of charitable help is to be done by individuals (and the organizations they may form).

The health care system isn't broken – the government is! It is already bankrupt - "NOT TRUE! ". Everyone agrees that health care needs reform, but it is still run a whole lot more efficiently than the government.- "NOT TRUE!" (i.e. “Cash for Clunkers” – it’s absurd that they are destroying capital -Governments consume wealth, they don’t produce it.)

A government run health care system would give the State greater authority as it would necessarily assume the power of life & death. Though it is true the Bill does not mention euthanasia - health care would be rationed- "NOT TRUE!! There is nothing about euthanasia in the Bill." (I did not mention euthanasia - see my notes above) There is no way around rationing. (see Dr. Ezekiel Emmanual's article (90)60137 that explores the ethical challenges of valuing an individual’s life in the context of allocating medical resources that are very scarce.)

Where are the Public Servants? Government is supposed to represent us, not rule over us! Their primary responsibility lies in protecting life, liberty, and property.

We want no further encroachments on our individual liberties and freedoms!

We do not want Socialism or Socialized medicine!

We want the continuation of our free enterprise system - "WE HAD FREE ENTERPRISE" - no further explanation given!

Well, that is where it ended.......................for now. I will follow up with these and the unaddressed items in a written letter to Mr. Levin, and carbon copies will go to Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin. Where it goes from there.......................God knows.

(I must say, my Boss, Chuck, had some very good questions, and some very REAL concerns related to being a Business Owner and the burdens being created by the government, but you will have to ask him if he was satisfied with any of the answers he received.)

Meeting with Congressman Levin

When pondering what I would say when given my audience with the Congressman, I realized that my appt. comes after a long string of appts. over several days where a large percentage of the people will likely be expressing the same concerns about the Healthcare Bill as I might like to, which will give the Congressman opportunity to hone his answers & shoot down what he might consider to be lies and 'misinformation'.


Interestingly, in my research, I came upon a 1981 transcript from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in relation to Income under the Federal Tax Law (Lavin v. Marsh - 644 f.2d 1378) which states: "Persons dealing with the government are charged with knowing government statutes & regulations, and they assume the risk that government agents may exceed their authority and provide misinformation." See Federal Crop Insurance Corp. v. Merrill, 332 U.S. 380, 384-85, 68 S. Ct. 1, 3-4, 92 L. Ed. 10 (1947). Yes, this is all legal jargon that most of us do not even dare to try and understand, and as I stated above was in reference to tax law, nonetheless, interesting that the new buzz word - "misinformation" being used by those in the Obama Administration is the same word used in relation to government overstepping their bounds!

Something else I came across while preparing for this was a newspaper article from a local Pastor, David J. Bostrom who had the most sensible arguement against the Healthcare Bill that I have heard to date. The major points of his article are as follows:

• "Health is an individual and family responsibility. No one should be under the illusion that if we get government healthcare that we'll be a healthier population. The biggest overall factor for good health comes down to individual & family decisions."


• "There is no "right to healthcare". We have a right to appeal to others when we are in need, but we have no right to demand they help us."


• "Charity is voluntary. The giving of charitable help is to be done by individuals (and organizations they may form). Charity is not to be compelled by the State. Forced charity takes from one & gives to another."


• "The States primary responsibility lies in protecting life, liberty, and property."


• "A government-run health care system would give the State greater authority as it would necessarily assume the power of life & death." (i.e. the provision of universal tax-funded abortions & involvement in the inevitable rationing of care.)

The bottom line is most people are satisfied & like their health insurance. And as for the bigger picture, regarding Healthcare, Cap and Trade, whatever, is that there is already TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT! Our government should not be dictating to us how our healthcare should be handled, or what kind of car we should drive, where we send our kids to school, or anything else.

We are still "One Nation under God (not Government) and it's time for them to take their HANDS OFF!

(My appointment has been moved to 4:45pm on Wednesday. If you are inclined to pray, I will need the wisdom of God!)

Impromptu face-to-face meeting with the Congressman

Today, much to my surprise, I found myself literally face-to-face with Congressman Sander Levin.

I was made aware through a newly formed local group of concerned citizens that a Community Resource Fair, hosted by the City of Eastpointe, was going to be held this afternoon with the Congressman in attendance. I was informed in advance that this was NOT a Town Meeting, he would NOT be speaking to an audience, and he would NOT be taking any questions.
My purpose for going, and my intent, honestly, was not to show up and make a scene, but to be a silent "presence" in hopes of sending the single message that Americans are concerned with all that is going on in Government, and especially with the issues related to the Health Care Bill that is currently on the table.
When I arrived, I witnessed a small group of people outside the building, some with signs, some at a table handing out information about the new area Grass Roots Organization, a few Police Officers (just in case), and even some people with Duct Tape over their mouths with messages written on them like "Prez says 'shut up'" and "No Freedom of Speech".
Inside, there were a lot of people milling around in the Lobby, and then a sign-in table at the doorway of the fair. I promptly signed in, and walked around to see what was being offered at all the tables, stopped to chat with someone I recognized from the Grass Roots Mtg. I attended 2 weeks prior, and then it happened.............
.........The Congressman had been in a side room meeting with people, one at a time, who had signed up to talk with him, when he decided to take a break and get some Media coverage while 'greeting the people'. Before I could even gather my thoughts, Mr. Levin purposely turned to me, and asked me directly if I had any questions or concerns! (Have you ever had someone get so close to you that you felt they were invading your space?) Well, I found myself looking him square in the eyes, and the words, "Yes, I have questions and concerns" falling smoothly from my lips as if I had rehearsed it. I calmly expressed that I didn't want to see my tax dollars going to fund abortions, to which he replied, "anything else?", so I continued by sharing my concerns about health care to the elderly being limited due to the lack of money to implement this program. His reply to me was that it was not true, and that I shouldn't listen to "those people"; then told me that there was nothing about euthanasia in the Bill. Well, you could probably imagine the thoughts that starting racing through my head! I began to sense he was becoming irritated, and no-doubt sorry that he stopped to talk to me. I never mentioned euthanasia, but since he did, I said that this Bill would then likely set the stage for it, and may be a "slippery slope" to it. This is where he ended the 'interview' (as the whole time we were speaking, there was a C&G Reporter snapping pictures and afterward asking for my name and City of Residence).

I now have an appointment next week to sit down with Mr. Levin in his Office to talk more in depth. Please pray for me! Thank you!

Naptime at Gramma's House

Kaylie's getting tired, but she doesn't want to lay down and sleep in here....

...or even on Gramma's bed with the big soft bear...




....but she eventually found a placed that suited her!





Night, night Kaylie!

The season to speak and pray...

"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-10)

I found myself feeling guilty for using my blog, emails and Facebook to voice my concerns about what is going on with some major issues and the leadership in this country; and I have even had a couple people tell me that they don't want me to send them this 'cr*p'. I would gladly stand corrected if that turned out to be the case, but my gut tells me that this country, and most of it's people will find out after the damage has been done that our freedoms and everything else we hold dear has been stripped away.

Yes, I like to have fun, share witty comments, post pictures of my Grandchildren and all sorts of other things just like everyone else, but this is a season to stand up and fight, so for now, and as long as God lays these things on my heart, I will not apologize.

I've quoted him before, and I will here:

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)