A picture tells 1000 unreported News Stories!

 This is the "Angry Mob" that marched on Washington on 9-12-09 against Government controlled Health Care, excessive government spending, and Cap and Trade that Nancy Pelosi is afraid will turn violent.

(Also known as: Right-wing Extremists; Astroturf; Nazi's)

Out of an estimated crowd of 1.5 Million, 1 one was arrested.

Below is a crowd estimated to be between 300 and 1000 who were protesting against Capitalism in Pennsylvania at the G20 Summit. (Are these people American?)

There were 83 arrested.

Where is all this leading us as a nation?

At this rate, we will be an increasingly divided nation with an escalating risk of erupting violence as frustration grows; ethnic and cultural groups see themselves disempowered; and people seek outlets for the fear and anger they feel due to not being heard by their government and/or other ethnic and cultural groups.

There seems to be a fine line between exposing the truth, and sharing the facts and causing division.  If I have in any way contributed to causing division, I ask forgiveness.

We have been called as reconcilers who have been given a ministry of reconciliation, not division (see 2 Cor. 5:18).

Summer at the end of Summer!

Yes, a little play on words! Mom and I went down to Tennessee this past weekend to see Michael, Samie and Summer.  We enjoyed a Sunday afternoon in Gatlinburg at the Ripley's Aquarium,....

....and then we stopped for dinner on the way back in Pigeon Forge at Bennetts - GOOD BBQ RIBS!

Summer is getting SO big - 9 months old already - So hard to believe!

I'm SO Blessed!

I'm absolutely positive that I have the BEST daughter in the world!!!!  Got a cold, sore throat, runny eyes, yech!    But.............then I got some Chicken Soup and some love, love, love!

Tea Party Express in Troy, MI

 On Tuesday, September 8, 2009 a crowd estimated to be 3-4 thousand people lined the street in front of City Hall in Troy and cheered as the Tea Party Express rolled in around 7pm.

The event was covered by Fox News (commentated by Griff Jenkins), CNN and WDIV Channel 4 locally.

  

The event was started with the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a variety of music and several guest speakers (Attorney General Michael Cox, Deborah Johns and others)

 

The crowd was upbeat and civil (no Mobsters here!), and many signed the giant letter to the Government expressing their opposition to the wasteful spending. Overall it was a good sampling of 'regular folk' who want their message heard about Health Care, Cap & Trade, and taxes.

A History Lesson on Social Security

Our Social Security

Franklin Delano Roosevelt - 32nd President (D) -Term of Office March 4, 1933, to April 12, 1945, introduced Social Security (FICA) Program. He Promised:

1.) That participation in the Program would be Completely voluntary,

2.) That the participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual Incomes into the Program,

3.) That the money the participants elected to put Into the Program would be deductible from Their income for tax purposes each year,

4.) That the money the participants put into the Independent 'Trust Fund' rather than into the General operating fund, and therefore, would Only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other Government program, and

5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income.

(Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month -- and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we paid to the Federalgovernment to 'Put Away' -- you may be interested in the following):

 

During Dwight D. Eisenhower's term (34th President - Republican - January 20, 1953 to January 20, 1961), in 1958, the first year that a democratically-controlled Congress (not President Eisenhower) voted to remove funds from Social Security and put it into the General Fund for Congress to spend.

Congress' logic at that time was that there was so much money in Social Security Fund that it would never run out / be used up for the purpose it was intended / set aside for.
 
 
 

It was during Lyndon B. Johnson's term (36th President - Democrat,Term of Office: November 22,1963 to January 20, 1969) that the funds were taken from Independent 'Trust Fund' and put it into the General Fund so that Congress could spend it.
 
The Democratic party also eliminated the income tax Deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

During the Clinton reign, (42nd. President -

Democrat - Term of Office: January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001), the Democratic Party, with Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. (Al Gore) [Vice President Term of Office: January 10, 1993 to January 20, 2001] casting the 'tie-breaking' deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the US, started taxing Social Security Annuities.
 
Here's the kicker!
 
 
 

James Earl Carter, JR. (Jimmy Carter) (39th President - Democrat, Term of Office: January 20, 1977 To January 20, 1981) and the Democratic Party started giving Annuity payments to immigrants.

Imigrants moved into this Country, and at age 65, began to receive Social Security payments even though they never paid a dime into it!

Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), they turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!

To sum it up, here's a quote from our 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson (Democrat - Term of Office: January 20, 1777 to January 20, 1781):

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have".

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)